Big names among Irish Champion entries

Leopardstown Racecourse today announced the entries for the Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes at a launch in the Ritz Carlton, Powerscourt.

Epsom Derby winner Ruler Of The World and Irish Derby winner Trading Leather were both confirmed, as well as other top-rated European horses including Al Kazeem, Cirrus des Aigles and Planteur.

The Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes is the seventh-highest-rated race in the world with a prize fund of €750,000.

The race was first run back in 1976 and has consistently attracted the best racehorses in the world.

It has been won in the last five years by Snow Fairy, So You Think, Cape Blanco, Sea The Stars and New Approach.

At today’s launch Jim Bolger said: “The plan for Trading Leather is for him to run in The Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes. He’ll go for the King George, then the Juddmonte and then back to Leopardstown.”

Ruler Of The World is one of a number of horses entered by Ballydoyle. Trainer Aidan O’Brien said: “We will be supporting the race for sure. Darwin was impressive when he won at the weekend and he is still in the mix as is Declaration of War and Kingsbarns.”

Triple Group 1 winner Al Kazeem remains a possible runner and his trainer Roger Charlton said: “He is currently on a break, but we are considering the Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes for Al Kazeem.”

The French-trained Cirrus Des Aigles, a triple Group 1 winner and favourite for the King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot this Saturday was also confirmed at today’s forfeit stage.

The six-year-old’s trainer Mme C Barande-Barbe said: “The horse runs on Saturday so we’ll have to see how that goes. He has been left in the Irish Champion Stakes and has other race entries as well. The Irish Champion Stakes however remains a possibility as he has no other option in September.”

Godolphin have also three horses still remaining in the race and a stable spokesman said: “We have left them all in at this stage.”

Marco Botti has confirmed Planteur as a definite starter and remarked: “The plan for some time now has been to run Planteur in the Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes.”

CEO of Leopardstown Pat Keogh commented on the entries: “We are delighted with the quality of the entries for this year’s Red Mills Irish Champions Stakes, all the best international horses remain in the field. There have been many great renewals of this race and this year looks like being up there with the best of them.”