Irish Champion Stakes: A runner-by-runner guide The Irish Champion Stakes is the main event of the entire weekend in Ireland and the Group 1 event has a total prize fund of €1,250,000. Established back in 1976, the race has been run under its current moniker since 1991. It has an illustrious roll of honour that includes the likes of Giant’s Causeway, Fantastic Light, Dylan Thomas and Sea The Stars. Aidan O’Brien is the race’s most successful trainer and he has won it 12 times before. A field of eight has been declared, which gives us just enough runners for three places, and we’re going to take a closer look at every single runner’s chances of coming out on top. 1. Anmaat — 4/1 Owen Burrows’ seven-year-old is a very talented performer on his day and has two Group 1 wins to his name already. That includes victory in the Champion Stakes at Ascot last autumn and soft ground is a massive positive. He has been consistent without winning in two starts this season and should be in the mix once again. 2. Royal Champion — 20/1 The jury is out on whether or not he’s quite up to elite Group 1 level and it’s a concern that connections have largely tried to avoid soft ground. He was an impressive winner of the Group 2 York Stakes when last seen, although this will be a very different test entirely. An official rating of 120 suggests he doesn’t have loads to find but others are preferred. 3. Shin Emperor — 6/1 This Japanese raider was only a length behind the winner when third in this race last year and is surely entitled to go close on that form. He won a valuable race in Saudi Arabia back in February but was a tad disappointing in the Sheema Classic when last seen. 4. White Birch — 8/1 White Birch won the Ballysax Stakes on heavy ground over course and distance as a three-year-old and is clearly a 1m2f specialist. He produced a career best performance to thrash Auguste Rodin in the Tattersalls Gold Cup last season but you would imagine he’ll be vulnerable to some slightly classier sorts here. 5. Delacroix — 6/4 Aidan O’Brien loves to win this race and Delacroix could add another victory to his tally here. The son of Dubawi won two Derby trials over course and distance earlier on in the season and soft ground won’t be an issue. His victory over Ombudsman in the Eclipse is the best recent form on offer and a big run is expected. 6. Hotazhell — 33/1 Jessica Harrington’s colt was an excellent two-year-old last term but he hasn’t reached those heights so far this season. Getting the better of Delacroix twice last season, that rival has gone past him now and we need to see a lot more from the son of Too Darn Hot. 7. Mount Kilimanjaro — 150/1 Aidan O’Brien’s secondary runner seems likely to be used as a pacemaker here, especially after his disappointing display in the Great Voltigeur. He did win the Dee Stakes at Chester before that however and may well improve for the run. 8. Zahrann — 13/2 Johnny Murtagh’s progressive colt remains lightly raced and he won a Group 3 over this trip at the Curragh when last seen. Winning with plenty in hand that day, he stretched a couple of lengths clear of the runner-up and could run into a place if stepping forward again.
