Winter coming for the Champion Stakes

No fewer than 14 Group 1 winners remain entered for the most valuable mile and a quarter race in Europe with Winter, Barney Roy, Cracksman and Highland Reel some of the stand out names of 26 horses that remain.

The last filly or mare to win the race was Pride, in 2006, but many will fancy the prolific Winter to halt their barren run, with Aidan O’Brien hinting this will be the target for his QIPCO 1000 Guineas, Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas, Coronation Stakes and Qatar Nassau Stakes heroine.

O’Brien’s other possible contenders include Highland Reel, who has won six of the 19 Group 1 race he has contested around the world.

Godolphin have enjoyed a fabulous year and Sheikh Mohammed’s operation have five entries to juggle, including the Richard Hannon-trained Barney Roy, winner of the St James’s Palace Stakes, who has been a model of consistency in many of this summer’s top races, as well as John Gosden’s Jack Hobbs, third in the past two renewals of the QIPCO Champion Stakes.

Cracksman, a stablemate of Jack Hobbs, is set to be a fascinating contender having won his last two starts by an aggregate of almost ten lengths and will be looking to follow in the hoof prints of his sire, Frankel, who won the QIPCO Champion Stakes on his final start in 2012.

Decorated Knight and Poet’s Word, the first two home in last month’s QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes, are among others to stand their ground.

FULL LIST OF RUNNERS

Decorated Knight (GB), Desert Encounter (IRE), Hawkbill (USA), Highland Reel (IRE), Idaho (IRE), Jack Hobbs (GB), Maverick Wave (USA), Poet’s Word (IRE) ,Success Days (IRE) ,Taareef (USA) ,Ulysses (IRE), Barney Roy (GB), Brametot (IRE), Cape Byron (GB) ,Churchill (IRE) ,Cliffs of Moher (IRE), Cracksman (GB), Lancaster Bomber (USA), Recoletos (FR) ,Sir John Lavery (IRE) ,Thunder Snow (IRE), War Decree (USA), Hydrangea (IRE), Rhododendron (IRE), Roly Poly (USA), Winter (IRE)