Inspiral returns to the scene of her brilliant victory at Royal Ascot in the summer to try to underline her status as the outstanding filly miler in Europe.
The Cheveley Park Stud-bred and owned three-year-old daughter of Frankel has only suffered defeat once in seven races and stepped up on a four and a half lengths win in the Coronation Stakes to land the Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville in August on her first start against colts and older horses.
She faces a new set of opponents this time, including Godolphin's Modern Games, former winner of the race The Revenant and Jadoomi, who has been supplemented to raise the prize-money to £1.15 million.
The Gosden stable won the race in 2017 and 2018 with the Cheveley Park-owned Persuasive and Roaring Lion and saddled Palace Pier to finish second to Baaeed 12 months ago.
Thady Gosden, who trains in partnership with his father John, said: “Inspiral won the Jacques Le Marois last time out and before that the Coronation Stakes at Ascot, so she is back at the same track, although on the straight course rather than the round.
“She is in good form, having had a nice freshen up since France. She seems to be well in herself. Obviously you have former winners in there like The Revenant, and Modern Games is a Classic winner so it is going to be a tough field, as it always is on QIPCO British Champions Day.”
Modern Games, who chased home Baaeed in the Qatar Sussex Stakes, returned to winning form in Canada last time where he took apart the Woodbine Mile, winning by five and a quarter lengths.
The three-year-old won the French 2,000 Guineas earlier in the year but his participation relies on there being no further easing in the ground conditions.
“Modern Games will be declared and we will be on weather watch from thereon,” trainer Charlie Appleby told the Nick Luck Daily podcast yesterday. “If the description was soft then he would be unlikely to run, but the decision will be made potentially on the day.”
Roger Varian will saddle both Bayside Boy, who won a Listed race at Sandown last month, and El Drama, second in the Group 2 Joel Stakes last time out.
“Both will be outsiders in the field but lively outsiders,” said the trainer, whose Roseman came within a head of causing a 28-1 upset in 2020. “They are both coming off the back of great runs.
“Bayside Boy got back into winning ways at Sandown and looks to be in great form. He got a bit lost in the summer on fast ground but has very good juvenile form.
“El Drama ran a lovely race at Newmarket and he would have come on for the run. I think both are capable of outrunning their odds. If the top two, Inspiral and Modern Games, run it will be very tough but it's open beyond them.”
Tempus finished a place behind El Drama at Newmarket and runs in a Group 1 for the first time for Hambleton Racing at a meeting where they enjoyed their best day when Glen Shiel landed the QIPCO British Champions Sprint in 2020.
Tempus was bought for 25,000gns at last year's horses-in-training sales and had his first run for Archie Watson on January 2.
“His work was always smart from an early stage so we hoped he would do very well, but he's just improved,” said racing manager Simon Turner. “He finds himself here on merit and we are really looking forward to running him.
“We spent 45,000gns on Glen Shiel, who did us proud, so it's lovely to be back with another Horses-In-Training purchase who we hope has a genuine chance of getting among that super valuable prize-money.
“I was told Tempus is the highest rated syndicate-owned horse in Europe. I've looked into it and it does appear to be true so we are very proud of him. Ascot and a bit of juice in the ground will suit him well and his form gives him every chance of being in the mix.”
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