A £5,000 New Year's Eve maiden to decide champion sire? It really is that close

Never mind the William Haggas-Charlie Appleby showdown for the champion trainers' title, or even the Champion Stakes clash between Baaeed and Adayar that is likely to settle it. Equally beguiling is the scrap to decide which horse will emerge as champion sire in Britain and Ireland.

Racing fans spend hours debating the merits of horses from different generations yet here is a real-life alternative involving recent heavyweights of the turf.

Of the four horses in contention, Galileo requires a near-miracle to top the pile. His half-brother Sea The Stars has slightly better prospects but even victory for Baaeed and Sea La Rosa – in the Fillies & Mares Stakes – is unlikely to suffice. That leaves Frankel in a virtual head-to-head with Dubawi.