The third of four Group 1s on the Champions Day menu at Ascot is the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, as Paddington bids to confirm his status as the most popular performer of this season.

Affectionately nicknamed 'The Bear', en route to winning four Group 1 races through the summer Aidan O'Brien's colt faces a stern challenge in this mile event if he's to lift the top prize of more than £655,000.

Here's our look at the runners and riders for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

What	Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
Where	Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire
When	3.05, Saturday 21st October 2023
How to watch	bet365 Sports Live Streaming, ITV, Sky Sports Racing & Racing TV
Odds	Paddington 6/4, Tahiyra 4/1, Nashwa 5/1, Big Rock 7/1, Chaldean 10/1

1. Angel Bleu 

Current Odds – 16/1
Jockey – Hector Crouch
Trainer – Ralph Beckett 

He boasts a fine strike-rate with seven wins in 16 turf starts and he landed the Group 2 Celebration Mile on soft ground at Goodwood in late August on most recent start.

However, he has come up short in previous starts at this level since his dual haul on French soil as a two-year-old.

2. Checkandchallenge 

Current Odds – 66/1
Jockey – William Buick
Trainer – William Knight

Checkandchallenge is a Group 3 winner over a mile at Deauville last August, but he has generally found things tough in five starts this season over 1m-1m2½f.

3. Facteur Cheval 

Current Odds – 12/1
Jockey – Mikel Barzalona 
Trainer – Jerome Reynier

The gelded son of Ribchester represents France and has only finished out of the money twice in a dozen career starts.

He handles testing ground and was possibly unfortunate not to bag a Group 1 in France this season, he was also second to Paddington in the Sussex at Glorious Goodwood on his sole UK visit.

4. Big Rock 

Current Odds – 7/1
Jockey - Aurelien Lemaitre
Trainer - Chr Head

He won four on the spin in France after joining his new trainer in February, two of them Group 3s on soft going, and has since been second in a trio of Group 1s behind Ace Impact (1m2½f, good), Inspiral and Sauterne.

5. Chaldean 

Current Odds – 10/1
Jockey – Frankie Dettori
Trainer – Andrew Balding 

The champion two-year-old appeared to be going places when quickly putting his Greenham Stakes mishap behind him by winning the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. 

But he was no match for Paddington when second at Royal Ascot in June and he was then down the field in Prix Jean Prat at Deauville back over 7f. He has a point to prove, but the Frankel colt is classy.

6. Epictetus

Current Odds – 100/1
Jockey – Kieran Shoemark 
Trainer – John & Thady Gosden

Epictetus was a Listed winner at Epsom over 1m2f on his comeback this season and has added a Group 3 at Glorious Goodwood over this trip since.

It's been a real mixed bag in between, however, and he was well beaten in pair of Group 2s most recently at this trip. 

7. Hi Royal

Current Odds – 100/1
Jockey – James Doyle
Trainer – Kevin Ryan

Second to Chaldean in the Guineas at Newmarket in May despite an SP of 125/1, Hi Royal was then third as Paddington won the Irish version soon after.

A couple of backwards steps since in Group 1s at Deauville, however, leaves him with it all to prove on this grand stage.

8. Nashwa 

Current Odds – 5/1
Jockey – Hollie Doyle 
Trainer – John & Thady Gosden 

ThishHigh-class Frankel filly has three Group 1 wins on her CV, most recently the Falmouth at Newmarket in July over this trip, where she quickened away for a five-length win. 

She's produced solid efforts in top-level races over a mile-and-a-quarter since, including a half-length defeat in last month's Irish Champion Stakes.

9. Paddington 

Current Odds – 6/4
Jockey – Ryan Moore
Trainer – Aidan O'Brien 

A huge success story this season for Ballydoyle, Paddington has gone from a Naas handicap winner to a four-time Group 1-winning star.

'The Bear' has delighted a legion of followers in that time and can be forgiven a sub-standard showing in York's Juddmonte International in August (third) as it came after a very busy few months.

Rested up since, this Siyouni colt is the one to beat on paper and won't mind testing ground. 

10. Rogue Millennium

Current Odds – 50/1
Jockey – Danny Tudhope
Trainer – Tom Clover 

One of two fillies completing the field, Rogue Millennium won the Group 2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot in June and was second behind Tahiyra in last month's Matron Stakes at Leopardstown.

11. Tahiyra 

Current Odds – 4/1
Jockey – Chris Hayes
Trainer – Dermot Weld 

This outstanding filly won the Irish Guineas plus further Group 1s over a mile at Royal Ascot and Leopardstown last month on Irish Champions weekend.

She's classy, but even getting 3lb she has more to find to beat Paddington on the figures. 

Any odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and are subject to fluctuation.

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.