Tom Queally pilots Frankel at Doncaster
Tom Queally pilots Frankel at Doncaster

Frankel heads field for Champion Stakes



Frankel is one of 46 entries in the Qipco Champions Stakes on Champions Day at Ascot on October 20 - what is expected to be his last appearance on a racetrack.

Sir Henry Cecil's unbeaten superstar is due to step up to 10 furlongs for his next race at York in the Juddmonte International later this month after having achieved all that is possible over a mile.

Old foe Excelebration is one of a huge army of possible top-class rivals from Aidan O'Brien's Ballydoyle yard, including Triple Crown aspirant Camelot, Imperial Monarch, St Nicholas Abbey and Power.

The likes of last year's winner Cirrus Des Aigles, Nathaniel, Giofra, Meandre, Golden Lilac and The Fugue could also take him on.

Frankel has additionally been entered in the Qipco Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, which he won last year, over a mile.

Cecil has also entered his new addition Beauty Parlour in that Group One, while the John Gosden-trained duo of Fallen For You and Elusive Kate represent a strong fillies' division.

Camelot is a surprise entry, with Most Improved and long-term absentee Parish Hall still in the hat.

The Qipco British Champions Sprint entries are headed by July Cup winner Mayson, with Ortensia, Bated Breath and Starspangledbanner still engaged.

Last year's Qipco British Champions Fillies' And Mares' Stakes winner Dancing Rain is one of 33 entries this season, with Great Heavens, The Fugue and Snow Fairy also possible runners.

Saddler's Rock, Colour Vision and Fame And Glory could all clash in the British Champions Long Distance Cup.

The Dermot Weld-trained Rite Of Passage, the 2010 Gold Cup winner, has not been seen since May 2011 but also holds an entry.

At a glance

Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.

 

Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year

 

Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month

 

Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30 

 

Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse

 

Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth

 

Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances

The specs

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Transmission: ten-speed

Power: 420bhp

Torque: 624Nm

Price: Dh325,125

On sale: Now

The White Lotus: Season three

Creator: Mike White

Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell

Rating: 4.5/5

Some of Darwish's last words

"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008

His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.