Junior Favourite For Irish Champion Stakes

Coral have installed David Junior as the 5-2 favourite for the Baileys Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on September 9.

The Barking-based firm believe Brian Meehan's Eclipse winner can account for what could be a top-class field, with Electrocutionist next best at 3-1 and Budweiser Irish Derby hero Dylan Thomas a 7-2 chance.

Ouija Board (4-1) and Alexander Goldrun (7-1) are both possibles after fighting out a thrilling renewal of the Vodafone Nassau Stakes.

'The Irish Champion Stakes promises to be one of the races of the season and we marginally favour David Junior over Electrocutionist, Dylan Thomas and Ouija Board,' said Coral spokesman Simon Clare.

Alexander Goldrun was a close third to Oratorio and Motivator in the prestigious contest last year.

Her trainer Jim Bolger said: 'It's been well publicised she's going to Leopardstown. She's got two options there ? the Matron and Champion Stakes.

'We would be leaning towards the Champion Stakes at the moment but we'll wait and see what turns up in the line of a colt.'

Reflecting on the five-year-old's race at the weekend, he added: 'It was a top-drawer effort, as was the winner's.'

Bolger has allowed his stable star to take things easy since her return from Goodwood.

'I don't know much about her because she's been lying down since she got back so we are going to wait until she gets up and feels well in herself,' he explained.

A mile-and-a-half campaign had been considered for Alexander Goldrun at one time but that has now been ruled out.

'We've got the idea of a mile and a half out of our systems,' Bolger said.

'We didn't get a fair trial at it ? it was a mile and a half in Dubai (fifth behind Heart's Cry in the Sheema Classic) but things didn't work out.

'We've enough options without going that route.'

BRITTAIN LOOKS TO THE AUTUMN

Rajeem, shock winner of the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket's July meeting, is to be prepared for an autumn campaign.

Clive Brittain's filly was due to run in the Vodafone Nassau Stakes at Goodwood on Saturday but was ruled out of the Group One contest with an infected heel, for which she was put on a course of antibiotics.

'She's in the Yorkshire Oaks but that would be doubtful now. We probably won't run her again until the Sun Chariot (at Newmarket on September 30),' the Newmarket trainer said.

'I like to give them a good spell out when they've been treated with antibiotics. I always think it's wise to let it run out of their system before you go ahead with them.

'She's a good filly and she'll prove that Newmarket was no 50-1 fluke. It's never over-excited me the prices they lay my horses.'

The Nassau was won by Ouija Board, who got the better of Alexander Goldrun by a short head after a titanic battle.

'They were two good fillies and it was great to see a finish like that,' Brittain continued.

'Without a doubt we'd have been in the firing line and we'd have given them a run but it wasn't to be.

'We've still got our ammunition, our powder is still dry.'

(C) PA Sport