Two days of fantastic action away in Ireland for the Irish Champions Festival. The feature race on the Leopardstown Saturday card is the Irish Champions Stakes – a race that has been dominated by A P O’Brien in recent years, but there’s plenty of other trainers who look to have a good chance of landing the honours this time around.
Last year saw master trainer Aidan O’Brien cement his status as the most successful trainer in the history of the race, with Luxembourg giving him a record eleventh victory. His best chance this year appears to be Epsom Derby winner Auguste Rodin, although he’ll face a tough test from the likes of Epsom Derby runner-up King Of Steel and the supplemented Alflaila.
GG editor Dan Corbally previews the race, identifying the key trends for the race, before running through the runners and giving his expert verdict on who he expects to win.
Last year’s renewal went the way (again!) of A P O’Brien, as LUXEMBOURG edged out Onesto in a thrilling finish:
Key Trends
- Six of the last ten winners have been three-year-olds.
- Ten of the last twelve winners has run three times, two of whom had won at least twice.
- Ten of the last twelve winners had run within four weeks.
- Eleven of twelve winners had at least two runs at ten furlongs.
- Twelve of the last twelve winners had won a Group 1
Runner-By-Runner Guide
1. ALFAILA
(Owen Burrows/Jim Crowley)
Fast improving four-year-old and hails from the Burrows yard, who has proved on so many occasions that he has a particular skill in gradually improving horses to the top level. This is his first shot at Group 1 level but he at arrives on the back of a solid Group 2 win in the York Stakes, could take higher rank but needs to keep improving. Slight worry that he could ‘bounce’ , having returned off a 200+ day lay-off in 2022 he returned with a win, just as he did this year, but he was down the field on his next effort six-weeks later.
2. LUXEMBOURG
(Aidan O’Brien/Seamie Heffernan)
Last year’s winner faces a tougher task today but has shown he retains plenty of ability already this season taking the Tattersalls’ Gold Cup and running with credit in both the Prince Of Wales’ & King George VI Stakes. This was potentially his target all year round but hard to know if he’ll enjoy the likely fast conditions having done all of his racing on Good and Soft ground. Respected in his bid to defend his crown but very much there to be shot at.
3. ONESTO
(Fabrice Chappet/Frankie Dettori)
Runner-up in this contest 12 months ago against the re-opposing Luxembourg. Conditions however are likely to be extremely different this weekend, with very dry & warm weather likely to have the ground at Leopardstown riding very quick. Like many of Frankel’s progeny, he acts best with some cut underfoot, so any rain that comes would be welcome for him and it’s interesting Dettori sought out the ride on what’s likely to be his final Irish Champion Stakes.
4. POINT LONSDALE
(Aidan O’Brien/Dylan Brown McMonagle)
Looks up against it on what we’ve seen thus far this season, making seriously heavy weather of it over 1m2f in the Huxley Stakes at Chester. after taking the Alleged Stakes on home turf. Stepped up to 1m4f the last twice and hasn’t been able to lay a hand on smarter types. Doubtful whether this drop back to 1m2f is the answer and likely in here to force a pace.
5. NASHWA
(John & Thady Gosden/Hollie Doyle)
2022 French Oaks winner who looked like she could potentially lose her way and may regress early in the year but has been expertly handed by the Gosdens since, posting a career best effort despite defeat on her latest outing in the Juddmonte International behind Mostahdaf. Prior to that performance she’d taken the Falmouth Stakes over a mile and run third on Soft ground in the Nassau Stakes. Cannot be discounted, looks to have her conditions and could have a huge say if she can replicate her latest run.
6. AL RIFFA
(Joseph O’Brien/Christophe Soumillon)
Very interesting and thoroughly unexposed colt, having only his sixth run of his career having captured the Vincent O’Brien Stakes Group 1 as a juvenile and running very well to finish second behind French Derby Winner Ace Impact on his latest run.hat was much more like it after a somewhat muddled race when second on seasonal return. Likely still has more to come, but will need it.
7. AUGUSTE RODIN
(Aidan O’Brien/Ryan Moore)
High-class Derby winner who is quickly becoming somewhat of an enigma. He was a massive disappointment in the Guineas before showing his true colours in the Derby at Epsom when collaring King Of Steel on fast ground. All went wrong from an early stage in the King George VI Stakes when pushed and shoved from an early point and clearly wasn’t right, though no explanations or excuses were forthcoming. Has at least shown he can bounce back after a poor run and the long-held suspicion (for some people at least!) has been that ten furlongs will suit.
8. KING OF STEEL
(Roger Varian/Kevin Stott)
Massive big unit of a horse and clearly has plenty of talent to go with the looks. Much like Al Riffa he’s still relatively unexposed, having only his sixth career run, running behind Auguste Rodin twice in the Derby and Futurity Stales and in front of that rival in the King George VI (3rd behind Hukum & Westover). Ten furlongs is an unknown but Roger Varian has previously alluded to his desire to try the trip and intimated it’d hold no fears.
9. SPREWELL
(Jessica Harrington/Shane Foley)
Immensely promising beginning to his three-year-old career, winning twice before running with great credit behind Auguste Rodin & King Of Steel in the Derby. Slight blot on the profile when sixth in the Irish Derby but has been freshened up since and has a course and distance success on his CV from the Derby Trial Stakes. Probably just short of the quality required to take a hand at the finish in this contest.
Big-Race Verdict
A cracking line-up go to post for one of the highlights of the flat season and Aidan O’Brien has saddled 11 winners down the years, indeed he’s taken the last four renewals. With that in mind, it’s probably no surprise to see AUGUSTE RODIN near the top of he market and given another chance to shine having bombed out last time out. King Of Steel is thoroughly respect with vibes from that camp coming across very confident, while Nashwa has firmly got herself back on track and is feared. Last year’s 1-2, Luxembourg & Onesto are respected but may find these conditions in this test a bit too quick should the rain stay away as forecast.
SELECTION: AUGUSTE RODIN (7/2 generally)
*odds correct at time of posting – 3.35pm Thursday 7th September*
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