AIDAN O'Brien's pair Highland Reel and Winter are among a stellar cast of 14 Group 1 winners remaining in contention following the latest forfeit stage for the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot on October 21st.

Winter unsuccessfully stepped up to a mile and a half in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe last weekend, while her stablemate Highland Reel missed the Chantilly showpiece but is in the Gigaset Cumberland Lodge Stakes at Ascot this Saturday.

Decorated Knight and Poet's Word, the first two home in last month's Irish Champion Stakes, are other likely contenders, while Winter is also in the Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on the Champions Day card.

She is one of 29 horses in the QEII, a list that is headlined by Richard Fahey's stable star Ribchester.

The Godolphin-owned colt is officially rated Europe's best miler and sets a very high standard having won three group one races this season.

His opponents could include Churchill, Barney Roy and Al Wukair - the first three home in this year's 2000 Guineas.

Andrew Balding is set to saddle last week's fast-improving Joel Stakes winner Beat The Bank, as well as Here Comes When, who inflicted a shock defeat on Ribchester in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.

"Beat The Bank is an intended runner. Here Comes When is in good form and goes straight to the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes," said Balding.

"We were thinking of running him (Here Comes When) in Italy (after Goodwood), but decided we were best keeping him fresh for Champions Day."

A total of £4.3 million in prize-money will be up for grabs on Britain's richest raceday, which is taking place for the seventh time.

There are 35 individual group one winners entered across a card that consists of four group ones, a group two and the richest one-mile handicap in Europe - the Balmoral Handicap Stakes.