The last two winners of the Irish Champion Stakes feature in the stellar cast of eight runners for this year’s renewal at Leopardstown.
Auguste Rodin narrowly denied defending champion Luxembourg in last season’s contest, but the pair have to concede 6lbs to Ballydoyle stablemate Los Angeles, who is on a hat-trick attempt following Irish Derby and Great Voltigeur victories, in Saturday’s 15:25.
While trainer Aidan O’Brien is responsible for half of the field – outsider Hans Andersen completes the quartet – the top prize of €712,500 could be heading to Britain as William Haggas saddles the one of the most exciting horses in training.
Economics is unbeaten in his three-year-old campaign and the Dante winner defied a lengthy break to scoop Group 2 honours in impressive fashion in the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano last month.
Ghostwriter brings a high level of form to the table courtesy of third-place finishes in the Eclipse and Juddmonte International, Royal Rhyme also makes the trip across the Irish Sea, while there is Japanese interest in the form of Shin Emperor, who is being lined up for a crack at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
The latest Irish Champion Stakes odds are on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app, otherwise Timeform’s guide to the runners as well as betting tips from the racing boffins can be found below.
Irish Champion Stakes verdict
Timeform: A cracking renewal in which ECONOMICS, who has been so impressive in Group 2 company on his last starts, can show he has what it takes to come out on top at the highest level. Last year’s winner Auguste Rodin can bounce back from his below-par run in the King George and provide the chief threat ahead of Ghostwriter.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Irish Champion Stakes 2024 runners and riders
The following horses have been declared for the Irish Champion Stakes 2024.
Auguste Rodin
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien Jockey: Ryan Moore Age: 4 Weight: 9st 9lbs Draw: 4
Has flopped a few times but very much on a going day when winning this last year and showed he’s as good as ever at 4 when landing the Prince of Wales’s at Royal Ascot in June. Threw in one of his lesser efforts in the King George since but he’s always bounced straight back from poor runs before.
****
Hans Andersen
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien Jockey: C. D. Hayes Age: 4 Weight: 9st 9lbs Draw: 6
Very useful in his own right but often employed as a pacemaker in Group 1s this summer, although not in the International at York last time (well held). Chance he’ll resume those front-running duties today but big outsider either way.
*
Luxembourg
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien Jockey: Declan McDonogh Age: 5 Weight: 9st 9lbs Draw: 7
High-class horse who notched the fourth Group 1 success of his career in the Coronation Cup at Epsom (1½m, soft) at the end of May but a well-beaten sixth in the King George at Ascot since. Needs first-time cheekpieces to have a positive effect.
**
Royal Rhyme
Trainer: K. R. Burke Jockey: Clifford Lee Age: 4 Weight: 9st 9lbs Draw: 1
Ayr listed winner last autumn and added to his very good record on going softer than good when landing the Brigadier Gerard at Sandown (1¼m, soft) on his reappearance in May. Limitations exposed on a quicker surface since and would only enter the each-way equation should the ground turn soft.
**
Economics
Trainer: William Haggas Jockey: Tom Marquand Age: 3 Weight: 9st 3lbs Draw: 8
Burst on the Group-race scene with a 6-length win in the Dante at York in May and underlined that he’s potentially out of the top drawer when readily picking of Jayarebe in a Deauville Group 2 3 months later (both 1¼m, good). Can take the step up to Group 1 level in his stride.
*****
Ghostwriter
Trainer: Clive Cox Jockey: Richard Kingscote Age: 3 Weight: 9st 3lbs Draw: 2
Group 2 winner at 2 and has reached the frame at Group 1 level on all 4 starts this year, on the latest finishing 4½ lengths third of 13 to City of Troy in the International at York (1¼m, good). Place claims again.
***
Los Angeles
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien Jockey: D. B. McMonagle Age: 3 Weight: 9st 3lbs Draw: 5
The only defeat of his 6-race career came when third in the Epsom Derby. Took the Irish version at the Curragh 4 weeks later and probably even slightly bettered that form when defying a Group 1 penalty in the Voltigeur at York. The drop back to 1¼m isn’t certain to play his strengths.
***
Shin Emperor
Trainer: Yoshito Yahagi Jockey: Ryusei Sakai Age: 3 Weight: 9st 3lbs Draw: 3
Smart Japanese-trained filly who was last seen finishing third in their Derby at Tokyo (1½m, good to firm) in May. Will need to advance her form a good deal if she is to make her first start in Europe a winning one.
**
Saturday’s Racing Tips
- Mick Fitzgerald’s Lucky 15 tips for Saturday at Doncaster and Leopardstown
- A 7/1 bet features in Timeform’s Leopardstown tips for the Irish Champions Festival
- Ruby Walsh’s Leopardstown tips for the Irish Champions Festival
Read More on the Irish Champion Stakes
- Gallop over to Paddy Power News for all the latest horse racing tips
- When is the Irish Champion Stakes? Leopardstown date, start time, runners and betting for 2024
- Irish Champion Stakes trends and stats for Leopardstown 3.25 on Saturday
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