John Gosden lines up his stars for Champions Day assault

The 2015 Irish Derby winner has finished third in the past two runnings of the QIPCO Champion Stakes and is set to try and make it third time lucky in the £1.3 million showpiece, which is Europe’s most valuable race over a mile and a quarter.

Jack Hobbs has not been at his best since winning in great style at Meydan in March but there have been mitigating circumstances.

“Jack Hobbs is in good form and he will go for the Champion Stakes,” Gosden said. “He ran brilliantly in Dubai then the ground was too firm at Royal Ascot.

“He just had a little problem with his hock after the King George in that he had a tiny stress fracture near the top of a cannon bone. He has been off since the King George but hopefully we will get him back for the Champion Stakes.”

Among his rivals in the Champion Stakes will be the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Poet’s Word, who finished runner-up in the QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes last time. Stoute said: “He had a tough race in Ireland and he won’t run again before the Champion Stakes. He has progressed really well.”

Gosden has pencilled in Stradivarius and Coronet, who finished third and fifth respectively in the William Hill St Leger at Doncaster on Saturday, for Champions Day.

He said: “Stradivarius ran a cracker. It was a relentless pace, very strong and there was no hiding place. If he comes out of it well he will go to Ascot for the stayers’ race (the QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup). Coronet has run a lovely race and she will go to Champions Day for the Fillies’ & Mares’ race.”

The Newmarket trainer also looks like being represented by Journey in the Fillies’ & Mares’ race (she won last year’s renewal) and there is also the tantalising prospect of him running either Enable or Cracksman – perhaps both – alongside Jack Hobbs in the Champion Stakes.

Tickets are selling fast to racing’s big finale, with King Edward VII Enclosure already sold out, so be sure to secure your spot now to Ascot next month.