Rip faces five in Irish Champion Stakes
Thursday 2 September 2010
Saturday 4 September: Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes - Live on RTÉ Two and RTÉ.e (Island of Ireland) from 2.00pm.
Rip Van Winkle heads Aidan O'Brien's three-strong team as the Ballydoyle trainer seeks a sixth success in the Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday.
Stable jockey Johnny Murtagh takes the ride on last month's Juddmonte International Stakes winner, who faces five rivals in the mile-and-a-quarter feature.
Seamus Heffernan will partner Irish Derby hero Cape Blanco while O'Brien's son Joseph will be aboard Beethoven.
The trainer withdrew his other entries Fame And Glory and Black Quartz at the final declaration stage.
Owner Prince Khalid Abdullah will be double-handed with Dermot Weld's Famous Name and Twice Over.
The last-named, trained by Henry Cecil, was runner-up to Rip Van Winkle at York having previously landed the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.
Completing the sextet is Mark Johnston's Sea Lord, who was supplemented for €75,000 at Monday's confirmation stage.
The Godolphin-owned Cavalryman, who has an alternative date in Germany, and the Clive Cox-trained Poet, were the other absentees.
Favourite Rip Van Winkle is a best-price 4-5, Twice Over is available at 7-2, while Cape Blanco can be backed at 6-1.
