Frankel faces five Ascot rivals Frankel will face just five rivals in the QIPCO Champion Stakes at Ascot, headed by last year's winner Cirrus Des Aigles, who is likely to relish the testing conditions. John Gosden's Eclipse winner Nathaniel is another who likes to get his toe in and he remains the horse to have got closest to Frankel when beaten just half a length on their respective debuts at Newmarket in 2010. The German Derby winner Pastorius is another new rival for Frankel while Master Of Hounds will have his second run for William Haggas having won in Turkey on his first start for his new trainer. Frankel's stablemate and three-parts brother Bullet Train is there to ensure a decent gallop. Aidan O'Brien will not be represented having taken out Declaration Of War while Prix de l'Opera winner Ridasiyna also bypasses the race.
