Irish Champions Stakes (G1)

It seemed a long way away in April but here we are, Irish Champions Weekend, congrats to all who got us here.

The Irish Champions Stakes is the centerpiece of the Irish Champion Weekend. Mainstage at Leopardstown has attracted a small but select field, Charlie Appleby has sent Ghaiyyath the world’s top-rated horse to stretch his legs.

Unbeaten this year he’s realised the potential he showed when he won the G1 Grosser Preis von Baden in Germany last year by 14L. He looked something special then only for it all to fall apart in the Arc where he tried to go pillar to post only to run out of juice 3f out.

This year a more mature and relaxed individual he’d originally been targeted towards a Meyden campaign, he won a G3 there by 8½L early in the carnival only for Covid to intervene. Brought home he beat Anothy Van Dyke 2½L in the Coronation Cup, following up in the Eclipse beating Enable 2¼L, then at York in the International, he had too much for Magical leaving her 3L to find.

Can he beaten?

Aidan O’Brien as always will try, Japan and Magical are once again thrown in at him. Japan the choice of Ryan Moore will try to make up the 2½L deficit in the Eclipse that saw him run third, a head behind Enable. He promised much and has delivered, third in last years Derby (it came too soon) he showed his quality with a trio of wins including last years York International. Slower to come to hand this year, and beaten in three runnings, you can take it Ryan Moore thinks he has reached the fitness required if he left the saddle free on Magical.

Seamie Heffernan will take the ride on her as she attempts to go back to back having been a really good winner of this last year. She’d had a lighter campaign this year than last, three runs, the Pretty Poly, Tattersalls Gold Cup where she won both as she wanted, but she was put in her place at York by Ghaiyyath.

Ballydoyle also ask Armory to contest. Is he there to be a disruptive influence, given that Ghaiyyath likes to lead it may well be his job to take him on early in an attempt to take the Godolphin colt out of his comfort zone, there’s no evidence he’s a pacemaker.

Last year he looked a very exciting colt, bolting up at Leopardstown in the Tyros, he added the Futurity but then failed to shine at G1 level in three subsequent runs. This year he found Siskin too good in the Irish Guineas and only saw Magical’s backside at the Curragh, he since had a confidence booster with a G3 win at the Curragh last time out with Jessica Harrington’s Leo De Fury 3½L behind.

Colin Keane takes the ride on Sottsass, a winner last year of the Prix du Jockey Club from Persian King no less. He was third, 3½L behind Waldgeist in the Arc, a ½L ahead of Japan and 6L ahead of Magical. This year he won the Prix Ganay but was beaten a neck at G3 level last time out, albeit on heavy ground.

Ghaiyyath under William Buick has broken the hearts and spirits of all those he’s met this year. His high cruising speed and ability to quicken off it has left his pursuers gasping for breath. The one he hasn’t met this year is Sottsass, back on good ground he’s a different horse, one with form in the book, he’s the only one in this field to have already passed Ghaiyyath, there’s every chance he can do it again.

Recommendation: Sottsass 8/1 win