Extra seven days could Enable an Ascot assault by Arc market leader

The presence of an extra seven days between Arc weekend and Qipco British Champions Day has been cited by John Gosden as a reason why magnificent filly Enable could compete at both Chantilly and Ascot in what would be an enormous fillip to British Flat racing's seasonal showpiece.

The normal 13-day gap between the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and Champions Day has this year stretched to 20 days, a calendar-triggered change organisers of Britain's most valuable fixture hope will further swell the number of equine stars.

Last year's Arc heroine Found went on to finish second to Almanzor in the Champion Stakes. The same two autumn blockbusters could yet be on the agenda of both dual Oaks and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes heroine Enable and French heavyweight Almanzor, who is due to make his belated reappearance at Deauville on Tuesday.

The winners of 83 Group 1 races and 16 European Classics feature among the possible starters for the major prizes at Ascot on October 21, with other initial entries including Winter, Ribchester, Barney Roy, Harry Angel, Ulysses and Big Orange.

Enable has been given the option of both the £1.3 million Qipco Champion Stakes and the Qipco British Champion Fillies & Mares Stakes. More immediately, she is set to line up in the Darley Yorkshire Oaks prior to a likely tilt at the Arc, for which she is a best-priced 9-4 favourite.

Gosden said: "She's been entered in both Ascot races and there's a week longer between the Arc and Champions Day this year. That means, from a trainer’s point of view, you’re not trying to back up in 13 days at Ascot this year – there are 20 this time – so all possibilities are open.

"A lot could still happen in the months ahead but it’s a great day and a meeting where we’ve had some success. We hope to be supporting the whole day with runners."

Almanzor and his Jean-Claude Rouget-trained Prix du Jockey Club-winning stablemate Brametot – both set to return to action at Deauville on Tuesday – are second and third favourites behind Enable for the Arc and both colts have been given entries in the Champion Stakes.

Rouget said: "I've yet to make any decisions, and we'll know more after Almanzor’s comeback race next week in the Prix Gontaut-Biron. He satisfied me when working last Tuesday, and although he won’t be 100 per cent fit I’m hopeful of a good performance.

"It's a good thing there's an extra week between Chantilly and Ascot, but it's too early to say if we'll run at both meetings."

The sport's top sprinters and stayers have been entered for the respective divisional showdowns at Ascot, where there could be a rematch between Gold Cup principals Big Orange and Order Of St George.

Aidan O'Brien on Wednesday described Champions Day as "definitely a strong possibility" for Order Of St George, while Michael Bell revealed Big Orange, beaten by fellow Ascot entry Stradivarius in the Goodwood Cup, is enjoying a break.

"He’s having an easy time for two or three weeks as he lost a lot of weight, 18 kilos [last week], and was a tired horse after Goodwood," said Bell. "It was a very tough ask trying to give all that weight away to a three-year-old."

Expressing delight at the entries, British Champion Series chief executive Rod Street said: "We are thrilled with the quality and quantity of this year’s Qipco British Champions Day entries.

"In 2016 the day was officially rated the top raceday in Europe, with two races in the world’s top ten. A three-week gap between the Arc and Champions Day may be a bonus. However, as the finale to the European Flat racing season, Champions Day has always attracted quality runners befitting the fixture, and the entries again reflect this."

A longer gap between Chantilly and Ascot this year means there is a shorter space between Ascot and the Breeders' Cup, with a fortnight the gap this time, compared to three weeks in 2016.