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Sumptuous feast of racing at QIPCO British Champions Day

The depth of competition means that any one of the four Group One contests would be a headline-making event in its own right, and it promises to be an afternoon that will live long in the memory.

If one showdown had to be picked as a potential pick of the day many would plump for Guineas winner Gleneagles against brilliant Solow in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (14.30), although the first-named will not run if there is any further rain said trainer Aidan O'Brien.

Qatar Racing is firing some big guns during the afternoon, and runs Elm Park (Andrea Atzeni) in the QEII - brilliant winner of last year's Gr.1 Racing Post Trophy, he returned to winning ways when running out a smooth winner of a Listed race last month.

Solow beats Qatar Racing's Arod in the Gr.1 Qatar Sussex Stakes

Lightning Spear (Oisin Murphy) and Sumbal (Christophe Soumillon) represent Qatar Racing in the Gr.1 QIPCO Champion Stakes (15.05), and, in a race in which a low draw can be helpful, they have drawn stalls two and three. The likely favourite, Irish Derby winner Jack Hobbs, is some way from them in stall 12.

Strath Burn (Atzeni) burst into the top echelon of sprinters when putting up a super effort to be second in the Gr.1 Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock, and he is one of three outstanding three-year-olds in the QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes (13.20).

His Charlie Hills-trained stablemate, Muhaarar, a triple Group One winner this year, and Twilight Son, who beat Strath Burn a short head at Haydock are the other two, and they make the race an outstanding sprint clash.

Few horses have made greater progress this year than Simple Verse (Atzeni), who became a rare filly winner of last month's Classic, the Ladbrokes St Leger at Doncaster. She lines up in the QIPCO Fillies' and Mares' race (13.55) where Gr.1 Irish Oaks winner Covert Love, and very smart French challenger Candarliya are among dangers who lie in wait.

Pallasator (Atzeni) represents Qatar Racing in the opening Gr.2 QIPCO Long Distance Cup (12.45), while the duo of Sacrificial (Colin Keane) and Halation (Jamie Spencer) line up in the closing Balmoral Handicap (15.45).

Also at Ascot, Silvestre De Sousa will be crowned Britain's champion jockey, while the winner of Qatar Racing's 8 to Follow competition will become known. Wanda Marshall, a teacher from North London, holds top spot and its prize of £10,000, although she is vulnerable to a late challenge.

Sacrificial, who runs in the Balmoral Handicap

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