Ground will change O'Brien's Ascot plans Aidan O'Brien has warned that soft conditions at Ascot on Saturday would see a reshuffle in his plans for QIPCO Champions Day. Cirrus Des Aigles heads 15 entries for the the Champion Stakes, which did not include The Fugue. As expected, with the ground currently good to soft, soft in places and more rain forecast this week, John Gosden's filly will head straight to the Breeders' Cup. While ground conditions have gone against The Fugue, the recent rain has come to the delight of connections of Cirrus Des Aigles, who bounced back to form in the Prix Dollar on Arc weekend. His main market rivals, Farhh and Declaration Of War, are both entered in the QEII as well as the Champion Stakes, with Maxios just entered in the mile contest. Mukhadram is also among the six-day acceptors, along with Hunter's Light, Parish Hall, Hillstar, Morandi, Trading Leather, Triple Threat and Sky Lantern. While as well as Declaration Of War, Aidan O'Brien also has Kingsbarns, Magician and Ruler Of The World as Champion Stakes possibles. However, O'Brien said that ground "any softer than good" would see Declaration Of War bypass Ascot and wait for the Breeders' Cup, while he also said Magician's participation might also be in doubt. "I don't know if Magician would want cut in the ground. If it came up soft we might run the others," the trainer said. "Kingsbarns was pulled up [in the Irish Champion Stakes on his belated return to action this season] when Joseph thought he might have knocked his legs together crossing the road, but he seems fine now and he has won with ease in the ground."
