Leopardstown have attracted a strong field for the Irish Champion Stakes and the best horse in the world are in town.
Aidan O'Brien fires two of his best bullets in an attempt to keep the prize at home. The undercard also features some tasty heats. The ground should be perfect. A day to savour.
Ballylinch Stud Ingabelle Stakes (2pm)
An interesting race full of promising fillies.
No Speak Alexander sets the standard while Earth Strike was a most impressive in winning her maiden on debut. The snag is that both looked most effective on heavy ground.
Quicker conditions may not show them in such a favourable light. A Taad Moody rates the selection, she was a very promising second on debut. The winner of that race brought very strong form to the party. A Taad Moody will need to come on plenty to prevail here but that's entirely possible.
Selection: A Taad Moody 14/1
Irish Stallion Farms 'Petingo' Handicap (2:35pm)
Arthurian Fame appeals as well handicapped. His last flat start was full of promise and hee should be primed for a peak effort here. The step up in trip, and booking of capable claimer Mikey Sheehy are positives. Buildmeupbuttercup is a talented, if frustrating, sort and she probably won't be far away.
Selection: Arthurian Fame 20/1
Coolmore America 'Justify' Matron Stakes (3:10pm)
Fancy Blue and Peaceful head the betting. They have met twice this season and the score stands at one all. Peaceful looked unlucky in the French Oaks last time when her jockey got the tactics wrong. Despite that she just failed to reel in Fancy Blue. She looks the better equipped of the pair for the drop back down to a mile and appeals as the best bet on the card.
Selection: Peaceful 5/2
KPMG Champion Juvenile Stakes (3:40pm)
This looks ultra competitive. A chance is taken on Jack Duggan at the prices. He overcame greenness, and a troubled passage, to make a winning debut and his form has been boosted since. That race was run on soft ground. Expect improvement from this US bred. Fernando Vichi looks to possess a fine attitude, and a good measure of ability. He's greatly feared.
Selection: Jack Duggan 20/1
Irish Champion Stakes (4:10pm)
Ghaiyyath is heavily favoured in the betting and quite rightly too. He looks a class apart here and has already comfortably beaten his two main rivals this season. He seems a much more consistent model this year.
Expect an impressive victory from the best horse in the world. Japan is the forecast pick. He suffered an injury last time out, and is better judged on his previous solid effort in the Eclipse.
Selection: Ghaiyyath 8/13
Clipper Logistics Boomerang Mile (4:45pm)
This will probably boil down to a match between Century Dream and Safe Voyage. They are very similar horses although there is a slight preference is for the latter. Safe Voyage has won two of his four starts this season. The defeats came at the hands of the top class Space Blues. The step up to a mile looks a positive to my eye. He will prove very hard to beat.
Selection: Safe Voyage 5/2
Paddy Power Stakes 5:15pm)
Tiger Moth runs for the first time since his narrow defeat in the Irish Derby. That wasn't a vintage renewal but this is a drop in grade. He shaped like a horse with a bright future that day. Expect improvement here which should be enough.
Patrick Sarsfield has had a fine season and in spite of a penalty, he can chase Tiger Moth home.
Selection: Tiger Moth 6/4
Irish Stallion Farms 'Sovereign Path' Handicap (5:50pm)
Another Batt got his career back on track last time out. If his new trainer has reinvigorated him, this horse is still well handicapped. He is well drawn and Gavin Ryan takes off a handy three pounds.
Breaking Story heads a long list of potential dangers.
Selection: Another Batt 9/1
Here's something to get you in the mood for the Irish Champions Weekend. Recorded in tribute to our frontline workers #StayTheDistance #rtesport pic.twitter.com/AJZiFnaoiQ
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) September 11, 2020
Watch live coverage of Champions Weekend from 3pm today (RTÉ1 & RTÉ Player and 3pm tomorrow (RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player).
