Britain’s richest raceday, the £4.26 million QIPCO British Champions Day on Saturday is building up to be a meeting to savour following the unveiling of the five-day entries this afternoon.

The most exciting clash is that of Almanzor and Found, who had six other Group 1 winners behind when dominating the finish of the QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown last month, remain on course to meet again in the £1.3 million QIPCO Champion Stakes.

Found has since landed the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Chantilly. Other star names include Minding, who has the option of three races; Galileo Gold and Ribchester, who meet for the fourth time this season and a glittering sprint race which boasts the likes of Limato, Quiet Reflection, Mecca’s Angel and The Tin Man who are all still engaged.

Almanzor and Found, head a tremendous 19-strong entry for the richest mile and a quarter race in Europe. In addition to Found, O’Brien, who has already enjoyed nine triumphs in this year’s 35-race QIPCO British Champion Series, has left the door open for Long Island Sound, Minding, Highland Reel and US Army Ranger to take part.

The first four home in last year’s running - Fascinating Rock, Found, Jack Hobbs and Racing History - remain possibles and, in total, there are 10 Group 1 winners still entered. Between them, they have won 22 races at the highest level.

John Gosden, trainer of Jack Hobbs, said:

“He’s in great form and we’re very pleased to hopefully have him back on Saturday. The field is not only deep but very strong and I don’t think that we’re under any illusions. I thought that Almanzor’s performance in the Irish Champion was undoubtedly the best performance of any three-year-old this year, in fact any horse in Europe this year. I thought it was quite scintillating, his acceleration, so I see him clearly as the horse to beat.

“With 19 around there, if they all stand their ground, you’re going to have to have a bit of luck in running. Jack Hobbs has strengthened well, he’s had the summer off, and actually it’s given him time to develop. Given his sire, they get better with age and I think that the time has benefitted him enormously. He’s in great order for it, a mile and a quarter is no problem for him and he’s not a type that’s ring-rusty but we’re aware that we are coming back in a fantastic renewal of the race.”

Kevin Buckley, UK Representative for Coolmore Stud, said of Found and the other O’Brien horses:

“Aidan’s still got to put the finishing touches to his preparations tomorrow and Wednesday, and then he will discuss everything with Mr Magnier, Mr Tabor and Mr Smith.

“Found ran in the Arc, Champion Stakes and Breeders’ Cup last year and hopefully she’ll do it again this year and hopefully go one better on Saturday.

O’Brien who is enjoying another incredible season, even by his lofty standards is on track to beat Bobby Frankel’s record of 25 Group 1s in a season. Buckley said:

QUEEN ELIZABETH II

Galileo Gold, winner of the QIPCO 2000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes, and Ribchester, who landed the Jacques le Marois on his latest start, remain on course to meet for a fourth time in the QIPCO-sponsored Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, which is run over Ascot’s straight mile.

The star three-year-olds are among 15 entries who remain in the Group 1 contest, which carries prize money of £1.157 million after the addition of a supplementary entry today - Jet Setting, the Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas winner.

Galileo Gold had Ribchester three and a half lengths back in third when winning the QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in April but was only a short head ahead of him when the pair were second and third, behind The Gurkha, in the Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood in July. Ribchester turned the tables when landing the Jacques le Marois last time, Galileo Gold fading to be beaten about three lengths into eighth.

Aidan O’Brien, seeking a fourth success in the race and a first since it was introduced as part of the Champions Day card, has four entries, the most intriguing being Minding, the six-time Group 1 winner whose triumphs this year include the QIPCO 1000 Guineas and Investec Oaks. Other top contenders include Awtaad, the Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas winner, and Lightning Spear, fluent winner of the Doom Bar Celebration Mile at Goodwood.

QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS SPRINT

Six Group 1 winners remain in the mix for what promises to be a compelling renewal of the QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes. The £600,000 six-furlong contest looks certain to decide who is going to be crowned this year’s champion sprinter, with Quiet Reflection, the Commonwealth Cup and 32Red Sprint Cup winner, and Mecca’s Angel, the dual Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes winner.

Henry Candy has two aces up his sleeve in Limato, the superb Darley July Cup winner, and Twilight Son, the Diamond Jubilee Stakes victor, while Shalaa, a dual Group 1 winner as a two-year-old who made a successful return at Ascot nine days ago. Washington DC, placed in three Group 1 races, plus The Tin Man, runner-up in the Sprint Cup, and the progressive Librisa Breeze add further depth.

Henry Candy, trainer of Limato and Twilight Son, said:

“I think we’ll have to hang on as long as we can with Limato. If the ground stays good he’ll run, in fact they’ll both run.

“Limato continues to amaze me. He was a tiny little horse at two and not much better at three but just over the last winter he’s grown a lot and thickened a lot. He’s a much better horse now. It doesn’t really matter if he runs over five furlongs, though I think that’s a touch quick for him, but anywhere from six to a mile, he’s not bothered.

“He’s changed totally and completely, last year he had to have a lot of time between his races, that’s why he got beaten in the Foret. He does seem to take his races much better. Earlier in the year, if you’d told me that he could run twice in a fortnight I’d have thought you were mad but it does seem to be a possibility now.

“Twilight Son was a really gross horse earlier in the year but he’s working really well and seems really happy. Maybe he’s better fresh now so I’m not bothered by his recent absence.”

QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS FILLIES & MARES STAKES

Aidan O’Brien has left in Minding, Found, Seventh Heaven and Pretty Perfect. Minding and Found have alternative options on the card, but this is the only race that Seventh Heaven, decisive winner of the Darley Irish Oaks and Darley Yorkshire Oaks on her past two starts, is entered in on QIPCO British Champions Day.

Dermot Weld has long had the race in mind for the exciting Zhukova, who extended her winning sequence to four in a Group 3 contest at Leopardstown last month.

QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS LONG DISTANCE CUP

The past two winners of the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot - Order Of St George and Trip To Paris - remain among 14 entries in the Group 2 £350,000 QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup.

Order Of St George, a gallant third in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe eight days ago, is the only possible runner for Aidan O’Brien, who is enjoying a record-breaking season. A late decision will be made on whether Simple Verse, winner of the Ladbrokes St Leger last season, runs in this race or the Fillies & Mares Stakes, which she won 12 months ago. Forgotten Rules, the 2014 winner, could try and win back his crown, while other notable entries include Quest For More, the Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup and Prix du Cadran winner, plus Sheikhzayedroad, who beat Quest For More by a nose in the 250th Doncaster Cup.