White Birch 'in super shape' for Irish Champion Stakes Not seen since finishing fourth in the Tattersalls Gold Cup after meeting trouble in running at the Curragh in May, White Birch is reported to be in good form by connections ahead of a tilt at Saturday’s Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown. A winner of that same Curragh Group One contest last term, the John Murphy-trained five-year-old by Ulysses relishes soft ground and conditions look to be coming in his favour at the Dublin venue. With regular rider Colin Keane in action at Doncaster, Dylan Browne McMonagle will be on board. George Murphy, assistant to his father, said yesterday: "He is in super form and we couldn't be happier with him. He has had a few away gallops and is in super shape. "The Tattersalls Gold Cup this year wasn't to be on the day but he still ran a super race. We'd have preferred to have had a prep run but the ground wasn't there for one of those although we think we have him as straight as we can. "As long as there is good ground he'll run, and it looks like being a top-class race. "The English Champion Stakes and the Prix de l'Arc are his later options and it will be either or, depending on ground conditions." Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
