The Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes is the main event at Leopardstown on Saturday. Five time winning trainer of this event, Aiden Obrien , will enter the duo of Rip Van Winkle and Cape Blanco. Rip Van Winkle recently landed the Juddmonte International at York and Cape Blanco won the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby earlier this summer prior to chasing home Harbinger at Ascot last time.
There has been no English trained winner of this event since Grandera took the 2002 renewal but with Twice Over, Poet and the supplemented Sea Lord entered for Saturday, a formidable English contingent should ensure a fascinating race. Twice Over won last year’s English Champion Stakes and the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown in 2010 before going down by just half a length to Rip Van Winkle in the recent Juddmonte International at York with Cavalryman back in fourth place on that occasion and Henry Cecil’s very talented performer is sure to go close.
The Clive Cox trained Poet was a winner on this card twelve months ago for Aidan O’Brien and recently returned to winning ways in the Rose Of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock while Mark Johnston’s Sea Lord has progressed into a very smart individual winning six of his last seven starts including the recent Sovereign Stakes at Salisbury and connections have opted to try him at this level.
Ground report issued at 8.00am on Monday 30th Aug: – Going at present ‘Firm’ and ‘Good to Firm’ in places. Watering continues today.