Murtagh hails Champion action Former multiple champion jockey and now emerging trainer Johnny Murtagh has hailed the "breathtaking" action that highlighted the inaugural Champions Weekend at Leopardstown and the Curragh. With thrilling action at the Foxrock venue on Saturday featuring the titanic tussle between The Grey Gatsby and Australia in the Qipco Irish Champion Stakes, backed up by the Irish Leger on Sunday, Murtagh feels there was something for everyone. And he was pleased to see runners from Britain enjoy plenty of success. Murtagh said: "Some of the finishes on Saturday were breathtaking, with great excitement. "The crowds turned out in their droves and the winners of the Group Ones on Sunday are champions in their own right and you could see the two-year-olds will have a lot more to come next year. "Michael Owen winning the Leger (with Brown Panther), he's a popular guy and it was a popular winner. "There was a great number of winners, not one person dominated. "It's good, we go over (to Britain) and are winning plenty over there and it just shows, a lot might be scared of coming over and taking on Aidan (O'Brien) and Ballydoyle, it just showed they can come over and they can compete. "Hopefully there'll be more to come in the next couple of years."
