Frankel's team will walk the course at Ascot on Saturday morning before confirming whether the unbeaten colt will compete in the Champion Stakes.

The superstar could be withdrawn from what is expected to be his swansong if conditions are deemed to be unsafe.

The going is soft, heavy in places and Frankel has not run in such conditions in any of his 13 straight wins.

"The intention is to run if we can," said Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to Frankel's owner Khalid Abdullah.

"We will look at it in the morning. It depends obviously what happens.

"What I have always said is that as long as we are happy the ground is safe for Frankel that will be our call."

Frankel is considered one of the best racehorses of all time and his probable final race, before being retired for a breeding career, has helped attract a sell-out crowd of 32,000.

The £1.3m Champion Stakes is Europe's most valuable mile-and-a-quarter race and the highlight of British Champions Day - the richest day in British racing.

The world's top-ranked horse is likely to be a strong odds-on favourite, although further rain could improve the chances of his rivals causing an upset.

Competition is expected to come from defending champion Cirrus des Aigles and Nathaniel.

Frankel's stablemate Bullet Train, Master of Hounds and Pastorius complete the field, with Declaration Of War and Ridasiyna withdrawn on Thursday.

French challenger Cirrus Des Aigles won the Prix Dollar at Longchamp last time out by nine lengths on heavy ground.

Nathaniel, who missed the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe with a high temperature earlier in the month, finished a half-length second to Frankel when the pair made their racecourse debuts at Newmarket in August 2010 - the closest any horse has finished to the champion.

After the four-year-old Frankel completed two canters at Newmarket on Thursday, trainer Sir Henry Cecil - who has been battling stomach cancer - said: "I could not be happier with him. He seems full of himself.

"I am so lucky to have been allocated Frankel to train. He has been an inspiration and challenge, which I really needed so badly.

"Through my illness, I feel that the help from my wife Jane and the determination to be there for Frankel has helped me so much to get through the season."

Other races include the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, for which Excelebration - who has been runner-up to Frankel four times - is the odds-on favourite. The Queen will be at the course to cheer on her runner Carlton House.

Fame and Glory and Colour Vision are leading contenders in the Long Distance Cup, while Society Rock and Wizz Kid are in the Sprint Stakes.

Last year's Oaks winner, Dancing Rain, remains on course to defend her Fillies' and Mares' Stakes title.