Verse & Love could clash at Ascot St Leger heroine Simple Verse and Irish Oaks winner Covert Love feature among 16 five-day entries at the confirmation stage for the Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot on Saturday. Hugo Palmer's Covert Love would be making a quick reappearance after winning the Prix de l'Opera at Longchamp over a mile and a quarter. She is stepping back up in trip, while Simple Verse is dropping down following her victory in the final Classic of the season. The Ralph Beckett-trained filly was controversially demoted after finishing first past the post at Doncaster but was reinstated on appeal. Also in the mix is Arabian Queen, who took the prized scalp of Golden Horn in the Juddmonte International at York in August. David Elsworth's filly has since being well beaten behind Treve in the Prix Vermeille at Longchamp. Aidan O'Brien has left in both Tapestry and Found, though the latter is more likely to go for the Qipco Champion Stakes on the same card. There are two Irish-trained contenders in Zannda from Dermot Weld's stable and Jessica Harrington's Bocca Baciata. French trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre has Fate and Candarliya, Francois Doumen has left in Sea Calisi, while German handler Peter Schiergen is represented by Lovelyn. The one supplementary entry was the John Gosden-trained Journey, who booked her place with an eight-length stroll in the Listed Nayef Stakes at Newmarket last month. The list of possibles is completed by Lady Tiana, Madame Chiang, Beautiful Romance and Speedy Boarding.
