Economics and Calandagan are set to lead the largest Qipco Champion Stakes field since 2015, with 12 runners declared for the £1.3 million feature at Ascot this Saturday. Al Riffa, Luxembourg, Henry Longfellow, Content, and Hans Andersen were the only withdrawals at the final declaration, leaving a competitive line-up reminiscent of the 2015 race, where Fascinating Rock triumphed.

Aidan O’Brien, seeking to end an Irish drought in the race since Fascinating Rock's win, will field Los Angeles and Continuous. Both horses recently ran in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe but will need to overcome Economics, the winner of the Irish Champion Stakes. Economics, trained by William Haggas and ridden by Tom Marquand, aims to replicate their 2020 Group 1 win with Addeybb.

Francis Graffard’s Calandagan also returns to Ascot after an impressive season, including a dominant six-length win in the King Edward VII Stakes. Another French contender is Iresine, ridden by Marie Velon, who is looking to secure her first British win. The field also includes Royal Rhyme, the only horse returning from last year's race, hoping to improve on his fifth-place finish.

Facteur Cheval is one of the standouts on the wet in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup along with favourite Charyn. 

Other notable entries include Nashwa, trained by John and Thady Gosden, and King's Gambit, ridden by Oisin Murphy for the first time. King's Gambit had a solid run at Royal Ascot, finishing behind Prix Dollar winner Jayarebe, and will face competition from Andrew Balding’s See The Fire, now paired with Daniel Tudhope for the first time.

Champion Stakes (3.55) Runners and Riders:

Anmaat – Jim Crowley

Continuous – Christophe Soumillon

Iresine – Marie Velon

Royal Rhyme – Clifford Lee

Nashwa – Hollie Doyle

Novus – Tom Queally

Calandagan – Stephane Pasquier

Economics – Tom Marquand

King's Gambit – Oisin Murphy

Los Angeles – Ryan Moore

Persica – Sean Levey

See The Fire – Daniel Tudhope

Coral Odds:
5-4 Economics, 6-4 Calandagan, 15-2 Los Angeles, 14 Iresine, 18 King's Gambit, 25 Anmaat, 40 Nashwa, See The Fire, 50 Continuous, Persica, Royal Rhyme, 80 Novus

Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup (1.20) Runners and Riders:

Al Nayyir – Luke Morris

Alsakib – Oisin Murphy

Belloccio – Danny Tudhope

Burdett Road – Harry Davies

Kyprios – Ryan Moore

Sweet William – Robert Havlin

Trawlerman – William Buick

Caius Chorister – James Doyle

The Euphrates – Christophe Soumillon

Coral Odds:
4-5 Kyprios, 7-2 Trawlerman, 6 Al Nayyir, 13-2 Sweet William, 25 The Euphrates, 33 Belloccio, Burdett Road, 50 Alsakib, Caius Chorister

Qipco British Champions Sprint (1.55) Runners and Riders:

Annaf – Jason Watson

Art Power – David Allan

Audience – Robert Havlin

Kinross – Rossa Ryan

Mill Stream – William Buick

Montassib – Cieren Fallon

Moss Tucker – Billy Lee

Shartash – Hollie Doyle

Shouldvebeenaring – Sean Levey

Spycatcher – Sam James

Vafortino – Christophe Soumillon

Beauvatier – Alexis Pouchin

Bucanero Fuerte – David Egan

Elite Status – Clifford Lee

James's Delight – Ryan Moore

Kind Of Blue – James Doyle

Swingalong – Billy Loughnane

Unequal Love – Tom Marquand

Vadream – Kieran Shoemark

Flora Of Bermuda – Oisin Murphy

Coral Odds:
9-2 Kinross, 11-2 Montassib, 8 Mill Stream, 9 Unequal Love, 10 Kind Of Blue, 11 Swingalong, 12 Beauvatier, Flora Of Bermuda, 14 Audience, Elite Status, 16 James's Delight, 20 Art Power, 22 Annaf, Spycatcher, 28 Bucanero Fuerte, Shouldvebeenaring, 40 Shartash, Vadream, 50 Moss Tucker, 66 Vafortino

Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (2.35) Runners and Riders:

Doha – Hector Crouch

Quantanamera – Stephane Pasquier

Queen Of The Pride – Oisin Murphy

Sea Theme – Tom Marquand

Sumiha – Chris Hayes

Thunder Roll – James Doyle

Tiffany – Luke Morris

Time Lock – Rossa Ryan

Village Voice – Cristian Demuro

Content – Ryan Moore

Grateful – Christophe Soumillon

Kalpana – William Buick

War Chimes – Billy Loughnane

Wingspan – Sean Levey

Coral Odds:
15-8 Kalpana, 7 Content, 15-2 Time Lock, Tiffany, 9 Grateful, 11 Quantanamera, 14 Queen Of The Pride, Sumiha, Village Voice, 16 Wingspan, 20 War Chimes, 25 Doha, 33 Thunder Roll, 66 Sea Theme

Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (3.15) Runners and Riders:

Charyn – Silvestre de Sousa

Checkandchallenge – Christophe Soumillon

Facteur Cheval – Maxime Guyon

Lord Massusus – Gary Carroll

Poker Face – James Doyle

Prague – Danny Tudhope

Quddwah – William Buick

Dancing Gemini – Tom Marquand

Henry Longfellow – Ryan Moore

Ice Max – Clifford Lee

Metropolitan – Cristian Demuro

Sirona – Rossa Ryan

Tamfana – Oisin Murphy

Coral Odds:
5-4 Charyn, 7-2 Tamfana, 8 Facteur Cheval, 9 Metropolitan, Prague, 10 Henry Longfellow, 14 Quddwah, 40 Checkandchallenge, Dancing Gemini, 50 Ice Max, Sirona, 66 Poker Face, 100 Lord Massusus

 Image DRC