Confirmed runners and riders for the QEII and Champion Stakes - plus a tip

Baaeed will feature among a galaxy of stars on British Champions Day when he bids to extend his unbeaten record to six in a star-studded running of the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II stakes at Ascot.

The three-year-old, who won the Prix du Moulin at Longchamp last month, was among ten declarations on Thursday and is set to line up against multiple Group 1 winner Palace Pier, Alcohol Free, the mount of championship chaser Oisin Murphy, and serial globetrotter Benbatl.

There were no defections from the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and connections of Lady Bowthorpe, winner of the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood, opted for the race over the Qipco Champion Stakes.

The line-up also includes Craven winner Master Of The Seas, The Revenant, who won last year and Group 1 scorer Mother Earth.

3.10 Ascot Saturday: Queen Elizabeth II Stakes racecard and betting

The Champion Stakes is also packed with quality and will feature another clash between two heavyweights: Juddmonte International winner Mishriff and Derby hero Adayar, who came out on top when they last met in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Adayar, who was confirmed for the Group 1 on Thursday, was last seen finishing fourth in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe behind his stablemate Hurricane Lane and will be ridden by William Buick, who trailed Murphy by two in the title-race before racing on Thursday.

William Haggas will be represented by defending champion Addeybb, Al Aasy and Dubai Honour, who was supplemented for £75,000. Arc fifth Sealiway and Belmont Derby winner Bolshoi Ballet also feature.

3.50 Ascot Saturday: Qipco Champion Stakes racecard and betting

Helvic Dream and Love were not declared for the Champion Stakes, with leading trainer Aidan O'Brien rerouting dual Classic winner Snowfall to the Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes. She is the standout name in an eight-runner field that also includes Yorkshire Oaks runner-up Albaflora and Listed winner Invite.

The Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes attracted a maximum field of 20 including Art Power and Dragon Symbol, who was a close second in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot in June.

There were 12 declarations for the British Champions Long Distance Cup, which will feature a rematch between Trueshan, who won last year under Hollie Doyle, and Stradivarius, who finished four and a half lengths behind his rival in the Prix du Cadran at Longchamp.

Qipco British Champions Day card

QEII Stakes runners and riders

BenbatlPat Cosgrave
Lord Glitters Danny Tudhope
Njord Tom Marquand
Palace Pier Frankie Dettori
The Revenant Olivier Peslier
Baaeed Jim Crowley
Lady Bowthorpe Kieran Shoemark
Master Of The Seas William Buick
Alcohol Free Oisin Murphy
Mother Earth Jockey TBC

Champion Stakes runners and riders

Addeybb Tom Marquand
Al Aasy Jim Crowley
Euchen Glen Paul Mulrennan
Mishriff David Egan
Adayar William Buick
Bolshoi Ballet Jockey TBC
Dubai Honour James Doyle
Foxes Tales Silvestre de Sousa
Mac Swiney Kevin Manning
Sealiway Mickael Barzalona

Pedigree punting: QEII verdict and 1-2-3 prediction

A clash of the generations as champion older miler Palace Pier, a son of Kingman who faces his stiffest test ahead of his likely retirement to stud, takes on the unbeaten three-year-old Baaeed and other top-class performers including Alcohol Free.

sole defeat came in this race 12 months ago, although there were excuses on the heavy ground as he lost a shoe behind confirmed mudlark The Revenant. Consistent and game this term with wins in the Lockinge, Queen Anne and Jacques le Marois, the flagship son of Kingman is a fine advertisement for breeders Highclere and Floors Farm, having sold to John Gosden for 600,000gns at Tattersalls Book 1.

Shadwell homebred Baaeed has plenty to recommend him, not least being a son of Sea The Stars and out of a stakes-winning Kingmambo daughter of Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner Lahudood. The three-year-old has stepped up on each of his five starts and there could be plenty more to come from the full-brother to the operation's four-time Group 3 scorer Hukum.

The Revenant, a son of Dubawi and Excellent Art mare Hazel Lavery – who defeated a certain Noble Mission in the St Simon Stakes – won this last year, although he may prefer a slower surface, while Alcohol Free is another who brings high-class form to the table with wins in the Coronation and Sussex Stakes.

The daughter of No Nay Never is an out-and-out miler despite being by a predominantly speed-oriented sire. Jeff Smith's three-year-old is a half-sister to a Listed nine-furlong winner in Alexander James and out of a French seven-furlong winner in Hard Spun mare Plying.

If the weather remains dry, plenty of respect has to be given to Benbatl, a proven and versatile son of Dubawi and dual top-level Selkirk mare Nahrain, and Craven winner and Guineas runner-up Master Of The Seas, also by Dubawi and from the family of Cherry Hinton Stakes scorer and 1,000 Guineas second Kerrera.
Kitty Trice, Racing Post bloodstock reporter

This content was first published in Kitty Trice's Pedigree Punting column in Wednesday's Racing Post Weekender. Read more from Kitty and star Weekender contributors such as leading tipsters Tom Segal and Paul Kealy and exclusive columnist Ed Walker every week

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