Champion Distance A Worry For Harzand Connections of Harzand have voiced concerns the dual Derby winner may find the trip too short in next month's Qipco Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown. His main autumn aim is the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Chantilly and trainer Dermot Weld said after his Irish Derby win he is likely to have one run before it. "At the moment the one race is likely to be the Irish Champion Stakes but the distance is far from ideal, a mile and a quarter is possibly too sharp for him," said Weld's son, Mark. "But, he may need to run somewhere and the Irish Champion, being on our doorstep, is the obvious one. "Fascinating Rock definitely runs in the race. He's a very high class horse, he's the current English Champion Stakes winner. "To defend his crown at Ascot would be very much on the agenda but he'll take his place at Leopardstown first."
