Qipco Irish Champion Stakes news and views

Supporters of Golden Horn and Gleneagles face an anxious wait to see whether the Classic heroes will lock horns in Saturday's Qipco Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

John Gosden's Derby and Eclipse winner Golden Horn is set to line up alongside Aidan O'Brien's dual 2000 Guineas scorer Gleneagles in what is being billed as the race of the season at the Dublin circuit this weekend, but an unpredictable weather forecast has left both camps in limbo.

Ground conditions on Friday morning remained on the quick side of good, but rain is seemingly on the way and both Gosden and O'Brien are likely to leave it late before committing their star colts to the Group One feature.

Having already missed the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot this summer on account of unsuitable ground, Gosden is keen to let Golden Horn line up, but will make a final decision after walking the track himself before racing.

He said: "It wasn't our fault that we had an infinite amount of rain the 24 hours before the King George and I was right not to run him there over that trip.

"We go to Ireland and I'd very much like to run. If it's good or good to soft ground we'll run. If it goes very, very soft, I'll walk that track about three times until my wellies fill up and then make a decision.

"I'll go over late morning and walk the track."

Golden Horn will be on something of a recovery mission if given the green light having seen his unbeaten record go up in smoke when suffering a shock defeat at the hands of Arabian Queen in last month's Juddmonte International at York.

While keen to give credit to the winner, Gosden feels the team got the tactics wrong on the Knavesmire.

"We got it wrong at York, but full marks to the filly," said the Clarehaven handler.

"The filly was tremendous. She made every use of the 5lb allowance and put her head back in front.

"As far as I'm concerned, that's what racing is all about. If you run them enough something is going to happen.

"If you think of the two great stallions in Europe now - Dubawi and Galileo - they both tasted defeat. Secretariat tasted defeat, as did Nijinsky, so there's quite a long line.

"He's been doing normal routine canters and normal routine work. Nothing fancy, nothing different. You don't go trying to reinvent the wheel.

"He's an exuberant horse and that's part of his character."

Asked if he could envisage Golden Horn improving on his performances so far this season, Gosden said: "I think with any three-year-old there should be improvement throughout the year and how many horses improve from three to four? If you ask me when they're at their peak, I think they peak at five. To that extent there should be improvement.

"He's been on the go since mid-January. For these three-year-olds that go all the way through the year and don't have a summer break, which he hasn't, the year can stretch them out a little bit, but he seems bright and happier than ever.

"You don't go winning Dantes and Derbys and Eclipses for nothing - he's a fabulous horse and a charming horse to be around.

"He's a character and a lad, but he gets on with the job and he's a pleasure to train."

The decision of Leopardstown officials to run the Irish Champion Stakes an hour earlier than originally scheduled in an attempt to ensure the main event is run on the best possible ground was not good news for everyone, with Frankie Dettori forced to miss a plum ride in the St Leger at Doncaster aboard O'Brien's Bondi Beach.

The popular Italian will now head straight for Leopardstown and is keeping his fingers crossed conditions do not deteriorate dramatically.

He said: "Unfortunately they moved the race forward and I couldn't do both (Leger and Irish Champion), but it looks a great race.

"I think good to soft is okay, we wouldn't want it too soft.

"He's in good form, it's a good race and I'm looking forward to it."

Gleneagles is the undoubted star of the Classic generation at a mile this season, having added the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot to his back-to-back Guineas triumphs.

It has been a frustrating summer for the Ballydoyle inmate having missed engagements at Goodwood, in France and at York and connections are praying he finally gets his ground on Saturday evening.

The trainer's son Joseph takes the ride as the Galileo colt prepares to test his powers over a mile and a quarter for the first time.

He said: "I'd be very hopeful, without being confident. He relaxes well, he travels, he's got speed.

"I never thought he'd end up going a mile and a quarter this year, but that's just the way things have worked out - our hand has been forced a little bit - but I'd be hopeful that he'd get it without saying he definitely would."

Gleneagles spearheads a three-pronged O'Brien challenge, with Highland Reel and top-class filly Found also in the mix.

With Golden Horn and Gleneagles unsurprisingly dominating the headlines in recent days, the Dermot Weld-trained Free Eagle comes in a little under the radar.

The lightly-raced four-year-old claimed Royal Ascot glory in the Prince of Wales's Stakes in June and that remains his only start of the year. He ran an excellent race in atrocious conditions when third in last year's Champion Stakes at Ascot, but Weld is hoping for a sound surface.

"We had a hold-up before Ascot, but he put in an excellent performance to win his Group One," the trainer told At The Races. "He had a nice break after Ascot, his progress has been good and straightforward and we're looking forward to the weekend.

"It's very hard to put into pounds how much he has to improve, but he has to improve and I think it's possible provided the ground is good to firm. They (Gleneagles and Golden Horn) are two outstanding colts. Gleneagles is the champion miler of Europe, if not the world, and I'd be surprised if he doesn't get the 10 furlongs. He's a very relaxed horse and a high-class horse.

"What can you say about Golden Horn? He is the champion."

Free Eagle's big-race jockey Pat Smullen said in an interview with TG4: "He's a very, very good horse, as we always said we thought he was. He's had a little bit of an interrupted campaign, but he's in very good form and he's been geared up for the Irish Champion Stakes since his great win at Royal Ascot.

"From day one he always worked differently - he always gave us an extremely good feel. I always knew he had a lot of ability and it was unfortunate that he has had a few hiccups along the way, but he's in tremendous form now and he's starting to show the ability that we always knew he had."

The Grey Gatsby claimed the scalp of dual Derby winner Australia in last year's renewal and is back to defend his crown for Kevin Ryan. The admirable grey was touched off by Free Eagle at Ascot and has since finished behind Golden Horn at Sandown and York.

Ryan is another trainer keeping his fingers crossed for dry weather. He said: "We're keeping an eye on the ground. He's in great form and we'd love to run him, but he won't run if it's soft. We're in the lap of the gods."

Seven-times Group One winner Cirrus Des Aigles makes his first appearance in Ireland. Trainer Corine Barande-Barbe is thrilled with the condition of her French superstar ahead of his first start since May.

She said: "Going to Ireland is something we had to do some time and now he is doing it, so I am very pleased. He is looking better than ever at the moment. He is well and fresh and he was happy to go in the van to go the airport before he left.

"I think there is at least a bit of rain forecast, so we will see what arrives. I don't mind too much. I am very happy with him, we are in the game now and we'll see what happens."

Jim Bolger's Irish 1,000 Guineas and Yorkshire Oaks heroine Pleascach completes the stellar field. "It could well turn out that the Irish Champion Stakes could be the top race run in Europe, but there are still some doubts about some of them," said Bolger. "Hopefully they'll all turn up and it will be a good race and if I were to win it, I'd be more than happy!"