By Daithi Harvey
A number of rivalries look set to be renewed at British Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday as 17 horses have been left in the day's feature event the G1 QIPCO Champion S. Barney Roy (Ire) (Excelebration {Ire}) versus Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Cracksman (GB) (Frankel {GB}) versus Cliffs Of Moher (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Rhododendron (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) versus Hydrangea (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) have all been common themes throughout this season and they could all come together again in the ten furlong event on Saturday. Add in older stars such as Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Ulysses (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Poet's Word (GB) (Poet's Voice {GB}) and the race should be a fitting finale as the European turf season enters the final stretch.
Another mouth-watering clash could present itself in the day's opening Group 1, the G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint S. as Harry Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Caravaggio (Scat Daddy) head a field of 14 left in this six furlong dash. The Tin Man (GB) (Equiano {Fr}) and a back to form Quiet Reflection (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) will ensure the 3-year-olds won't have things all their own way.
Richard Fahey's Ribchester (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) will bid to put the icing on a wonderful season when he tackles the G1 QIPCO Queen Elizabeth II S. over a mile while Aidan O'Brien has also left the door open for Churchill to take his chance in this race should he prefer to drop the colt back down in trip. The upwardly mobile Beat The Bank (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}) and the soon to be retired Al Wukair (Ire) (Dream Ahead) also feature among 16 horses left in this contest.
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