Horse Racing

Jack Hobbs faces strong field in Champion Stakes

Jack Hobbs will line up at Ascot on Saturday with a total of 14 contenders to face, after the field for the Champion Stakes was announced recently.

The Godolphin owned colt was second to 2015 Arc winner, and stablemate Golden Horn in two big races this summer, the Dante Stakes at York and the Derby at Newmarket before securing a success of his own at the Irish Derby.

A five length success at the Curragh confirmed the promise of Jack Hobbs and heading into the Champion Stakes this weekend the ante-post favourite looks to be in terrific shape.

There will be plenty of money placed on the chances of Jack Hobbs, and with prices fluctuating at short money perhaps the 5-4 on offer is easier at various bookmakers.

With a prize fund of £1.3m up for grabs the Champion Stakes looks set to be a hotly contested affair and the field is as strong as any race so far this season.

The feature race of British Champions Day – the richest day in British racing – will see French superstar and 2011 winner Cirrus Des Aigles oppose Jack Hobbs, along with the likes of The Corsican and Elm Park.

“When you put that kind of race on for that kind of money you’ll get a lot of really classy and tough horses,” said Jack Hobbs’ trainer John Gosden.

Frankie Dettori, who won the Prix l’Arc de Triomphe on board Golden Horn, has ridden Jack Hobbs this season but it is likely to be William Buick doing the steering this weekend, with Dettori booked to ride Ribbons in the same race.

Dettori has been back to something like his best this season, with the triumph in France last weekend putting him into a ferociously competitive frame of mind as the season hots up and the Italian heads into the twilight of his career.