Tag Archive for: Leopardstown

Vega earns Mullins’ praise with Facile Future Champions strike

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Willie Mullins was once again fulsome in his praise of Facile Vega after seeing his star youngster stamp his class on the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown.

The outstanding performer in the bumper sphere last season with wins at the Dublin Racing Festival, the Cheltenham Festival and the Punchestown Festival, the five-year-old made a smooth transition to the jumping game at Fairyhouse earlier in the month.

Returning to Grade One level, the son of Walk In The Park and six-time Cheltenham Festival heroine Quevega was the 2-9 favourite to make it six from six and the result was never really in doubt.

After initially taking a lead from Il Etait Temps, Facile Vega almost jumped into the back of his stablemate at the first hurdle and was subsequently allowed to stride on in front.

Il Etait Temps hung in there and tried to throw down a renewed challenge from the home turn, but Facile Vega was in full command as he passed the post with four lengths in hand. Ashroe Diamond stayed on from the rear to make it a Mullins one-two-three.

When asked to give his star youngster a mark out of 10, Mullins said: “I’d nearly have to give him 11 and a half, I think!

“Plan A obviously went out the window after the first hurdle. Thankfully Il Etait Temps didn’t bring him down, Paul said he was very close to it because he absolutely winged the hurdle.

“Then he had no lead and had to go and make his own running. He did it well, he got very free at the first hurdle down the back and took some jump at it. I was delighted to see that but I knew he couldn’t keep that up.

Facile Vega after his Leopardstown success
Facile Vega after his Leopardstown success (Gary Carson/PA)

“Paul got him back, got him into a slower rhythm and got him jumping better. He said he was still racing in his hands the whole way but he eventually settled for him.

“I think he’ll learn an awful lot today. The big crowd and all the buzz before the race itself, all that will be a help for him in the future.”

Facile Vega remains an evens favourite with Betfair to provide the champion trainer with a record eighth win in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

The longer Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle is an alternative option, but when asked if he will stick to two miles, Mullins added: “I wouldn’t be looking for anything else.”

Grade One Rewards for Blue Lord at Leopardstown

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Blue Lord emerged as a potential threat to Queen Mother Champion Chase-winning stablemate Energumene following an impressive success in the Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase at Leopardstown.

The seven-year-old was in the top rank of novice chasers last season for Willie Mullins, with Grade One wins at Leopardstown and Punchestown sandwiching a third place in the Arkle at Cheltenham.

Having made a successful reappearance in last month’s Clonmel Oil Chase, Blue Lord dropped in trip and stepped up in class for this Grade One contest and was the 2-1 second-favourite behind his top-class stablemate and multiple Leopardstown winner Chacun Pour Soi.

The two-mile-one-furlong contest was run at such a pace that Chacun Pour Soi, who will officially turn in 11 in a few days, appeared to be struggling to go the gallop.

He managed to get himself into contention approaching the second fence from home, but a bad mistake put him on the back foot once more and he ultimately had to make do with minor honours in third.

Blue Lord on the other hand travelled strongly throughout under Daryl Jacob and after battling his way to the front early in the home straight, he powered 11 lengths clear of Captain Guinness.

Coral reacted by trimming his Champion Chase odds to 10-1 from 20-1, with Energumene the 4-5 favourite, while he is 6-1 from 12s for the longer Ryanair Chase.

Mullins said: “That was very smart, I thought they’d go too fast for him here and they did go fast.

Blue Lord in the Leopardstown winner's enclosure
Blue Lord in the Leopardstown winner’s enclosure (Gary Carson/PA)

“I was looking at two and a half miles for him this year, but it looks like he could be a Champion Chase horse after that performance. Certainly the dial is coming back to two miles now rather than going out to two and a half. It just means he’s improving.

“I haven’t thought about where he goes but I’m sure there is a programme there for those two-mile horses.”

Of Chacun Pour Soi, he added: “I was absolutely delighted with him – he started to put in some tremendous jumps down the back.

“He just met the second-last all wrong and it knocked him out of the race at a crucial time, but I was very heartened by his performance.

“Maybe he just needs to go out a bit longer in trip at his age. Paul was very pleased with how he was going, but he made the mistake and it cost him whatever chance he had.”

Dysart Dynamo stakes Arkle claim with impressive chase debut

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Dysart Dynamo threw his hat into the Arkle ring with a foot-perfect display in the Paddy Power “From The Horse’s Mouth Podcast” Beginners Chase at Leopardstown.

A brilliant winner of last season’s Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle, the Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old subsequently fell three from home when still travelling well in the Supreme at Cheltenham.

He failed to fire on his final outing of the campaign at the Punchestown Festival, but was nevertheless a warm order to make a successful reappearance and chasing debut as the 2-5 favourite.

Those who took the cramped odds will have had few concerns, with the keen-going gelding quickly pulling clear of his rivals and jumping accurately in front throughout in the hands of Paul Townend.

With his chief rival Slip Of The Tongue an early faller, Dysart Dynamo rounded the home turn with a massive lead and skipped over the final fence to seal a 28-length success over Irascible.

Betfair cut the winner’s Arkle odds to 5-1 from 11-1, while he is 12-1 from 20s for the longer Turners Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Mullins said: “He was pretty fast over the first couple of fences but then he settled into a rhythm. He threw in a huge jump at the first ditch down the back, but then Paul seemed to pull him back and get him into a better rhythm – he measured and jumped his fences from there on home without any problems.

“He is what you see – he gallops and jumps. He does that at home and the few times I’ve brought him away to school he’s done the same thing. He just gets out there and loves jumping and galloping.

“I think he’s settled a lot better over fences than he did over hurdles. That’s what I took from the first time I saw him schooling on grass. He really looks at his fences and takes notice of them, he wasn’t taking any notice of hurdles. That will be a big plus with him in the future.

“If you were going to draw a chaser, he’s the one you’d like.”

When asked whether a return to Leopardstown for the Irish Arkle in February could be on the agenda, the Closutton handler added: “We have a lot of horses that would fit that bill and we’ll see if there are alternatives for some of them.

“He came here and did it, so if you were coming back over course and distance he’d be one of the favourites to come back here.”

Tekao and Mark Walsh won the opening race at Leopardstown
Tekao and Mark Walsh won the opening race at Leopardstown (Donall Farmer/PA)

The champion trainer also claimed the opening Paddy Power “I Have No Idea What Day It Is” 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle with the promising Tekao.

Beaten into third place when odds-on for his Irish debut at Navan last month, the French recruit rewarded those who kept the faith with a cosy half-length success over Ascending under Mark Walsh.

Paddy Power cut Tekao to 25-1 from 33-1 for the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham, with his stablemate Lossiemouth a hot favourite at 6-4 following her runaway success on Monday.

“He took a keen hold but Mark said he was travelling well all the time. He was happy that he had come on from his last run so we’re very pleased with him,” said Mullins.

“He’ll have to step up in class. We’ll see what way this race works out but any time you win a three-year-old maiden around Leopardstown, it’s usually a good sign.”

Mullins went on to complete a remarkable six-timer, with the Grade One triumphs of Blue Lord and Facile Vega followed by victories for Winter Fog and Fact To File.

Winter Fog (11-2) made a successful debut for the yard in the in the Paddy Power ‘Je Suis Une Baguette’ Handicap Hurdle under 7lb claimer Kieran Callaghan, while point-to-point graduate Fact To File (8-13) stayed on to deny the strong-travelling Irish Panther the bumper in the hands of the trainer’s son, Patrick.

Mullins said: “Winter Fog did it nicely and Kieran is a good young rider, a cool kid and he deserves a lot of credit. He rides a lot of work on this horse at home.

“That fella (Fact To File) took all day to get going. He was one of the favourite horses I bought last year, I loved him from the day he came. That experience today, especially what he did in the last 100 yards, will stand to him.”

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar with trainer Willie Mullins, who enjoyed a six-timer
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar with trainer Willie Mullins, who enjoyed a six-timer (Donall Farmer/PA)

Of his six-timer, Mullins added: “It’s been an extraordinary day. Our planning department at home deserves all the credit for this, putting the horses in the right races and having them right.

“Between David Casey, Ruby (Walsh) and Patrick picking out different horses for different races and then just getting ready for the race, it’s a huge team effort.

“Ben Delmar, who is our head travelling man, getting them all right. Getting the right numbers on the right horses in the Paddy Power is a feat in itself.

“I have to thank everyone, especially owners as without them we wouldn’t be here. A huge thanks to them for having faith in us to have days like this.”

Real Steel after winning the Paddy Power Chase
Real Steel after winning the Paddy Power Chase (Gary Carson/PA)

The only race on the card that did not go to the Mullins team was the €200,000 Paddy Power Chase, although it was won by a former Closutton inmate in Real Steel.

Sixth in the 2020 Cheltenham Gold Cup, the nine-year-old subsequently moved to Britain to join Paul Nicholls before being bought by Eric McNamara earlier this year for £27,000.

The nine-year-old was a 33-1 shot for his latest assignment and had just enough in the tank to repel the late thrust of Diol Ker by a short head, with the trainer’s son Conor the winning rider.

“It was brilliant the way it worked out. He was well handicapped if we could rekindle him and to win one of these handicaps is great,” said McNamara senior.

“He spent two years doing nothing in England, whatever went wrong there. We changed his routine, brought him a few different places to work and we never took him off the bridle.

“We trained him like he was a really good horse and he always worked against horses that he could beat, just to try to mentally get him back to where he was.

“He was a really good horse. He was only beaten seven and a quarter lengths in a Gold Cup.

“Conor gave him a great ride and did everything right so it’s fantastic.”

Saint Roi swoops for Grade One victory at Leopardstown

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Saint Roi came from last to first to open his account over fences in the Brand New Racing Post App Novice Chase at Leopardstown.

Fourth in the Irish Champion Hurdle, the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham and the Punchestown Champion Hurdle last season, the JP McManus-owned seven-year-old had found the reopposing Fil Dor four lengths too strong on his chasing debut at Navan last month.

The pair again dominated the betting, with Fil Dor the 8-11 favourite to confirm his superiority and Saint Roi a 3-1 shot for Willie Mullins and Mark Walsh.

Visionarian gave a bold sight in front for much of the Grade One contest, with a couple of jumping mistakes late in the back straight putting Fil Dor on the back foot.

Walsh, meanwhile, bided his time aboard Saint Roi before producing him to challenge for the lead approaching the final fence.

Visionarian, the 25-1 rank outsider, did his best to make a race of it, but Saint Roi’s class kicked in on the level and he proved two and a quarter lengths too strong in the end.

Paddy Power cut the winner to 14-1 from 25-1 for the Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy at Cheltenham in March.

Mark Walsh with Saint Roi at Leopardstown
Mark Walsh with Saint Roi at Leopardstown (Brian Lawless/PA)

Mullins, saddling his third winner on the card, said: “I thought he ran very well against a horse that had already had a run in Navan. If he’d won we’d be coming here anyway so rather than running in another beginners chase, I thought let him have a crack at a good prize.

“He jumps well enough and he’d schooled very well in the meantime. We decided to change the tactics. JP (McManus) was wondering would he be better waited with and Mark agreed. He’s a nice prospect for the rest of the season.

“He’s not the biggest horse in the world but he jumps very efficiently. He’s also a lot more sensible over a fence than a hurdle.

“He had a hurdle rating good enough to run in championship races but was probably not a champion hurdler himself.”

Lossiemouth advertises Triumph Hurdle claims at Leopardstown

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Lossiemouth cemented her place at the head of ante-post lists for the Triumph Hurdle with a commanding display at Leopardstown.

The French recruit was the apparent second string for Willie Mullins on her Irish debut at Fairyhouse earlier in the month, but comfortably accounted for stablemate Zarak The Brave at Grade Three level.

She was the 4-5 favourite to follow up in the Grade Two Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle and having travelled well throughout under Paul Townend, she had the race sewn up turning for home.

Gala Marceau, making her first start for Mullins after two wins in France, gave chase in the straight, but Lossiemouth was ultimately far too strong and had seven and a half lengths in hand at the line.

Paul Townend with Lossiemouth at Leopardstown
Paul Townend with Lossiemouth at Leopardstown (Brian Lawless/PA)

Betfair cut the winner to 6-4 from 11-4 for the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March, with Coral offering slightly bigger odds at 7-4.

Mullins said: “She did that nicely and jumped well. She was hard on herself and was still able to win well enough.

“I’m very pleased with her and with Gala Marceau who ran on to be second. Lossiemouth looks like she could be the real deal and deserves her favouritism for the Triumph.

“I haven’t asked her to do too much since (Fairyhouse) and we said we’d come here and see how things go.

“The Dublin Racing Festival would seem the obvious target now.”

Townend added: “She’s definitely going the right way – she backed up her run the last day.

“It was not a straightforward race today and it looked that way going out – in a truly-run race you’d see the true mare I think.

“She had to get down and dirty and grind it out and she had no bother doing that.”

High Definition makes no mistake on jumping debut

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One-time Derby favourite High Definition made a successful start to his jumping career in the opening race of the Christmas Festival at Leopardstown.

The Galileo colt looked every inch a Classic contender in the making after charging home to win the Beresford Stakes as a two-year-old, but had failed to get his head in front in 12 subsequent starts.

However, he has been placed in the Dante at York, the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh and the Coronation Cup at Epsom and brought serious class to proceedings in the All About Sunday Maiden Hurdle.

Making his first start for Joseph O’Brien, having previously been trained by his father Aidan, High Definition (9-2) was sent straight to the lead by JJ Slevin, who appeared keen to ensure the two-mile contest was a searching test of stamina.

The four-year-old was not entirely convincing in the jumping department racing down the back straight, but remained in front turning for home and with the final flight omitted he kept up the gallop on the run-in to score by four and a quarter lengths from Jetara, with 4-5 favourite Parmenion only third.

Coral cut High Definition to 14-1 from 25-1 for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.

O’Brien said: “It was a nice start over hurdles for him. On the whole he put up a good enough round of jumping. He was a bit green at a couple and having to make the running on his first run over hurdles wasn’t ideal. He went particularly right at one in the back.

“There seemed to be plenty of well-fancied horses in the race. The second was a very good filly in bumpers and Willie’s (Mullins) was well fancied in third.

High Definition leads the field round at Leopardstown
High Definition leads the field round at Leopardstown (Brian Lawless/PA)

“We’ve had him since October. The plan was to come here for a maiden and we were happy with his schooling at home.

“He was a high-class Flat horse so you would be hoping he can make it into Graded company over hurdles.”

Considering future plans, the trainer added: “Obviously we would be looking at Cheltenham, but he would have to run somewhere between now and then.

“We’ll see how he is after this and speak with the owners before making a plan. The Dublin Racing Festival is an option, but whether we want to go straight into that class or take baby steps we’ll have to see.”

Paul Townend with Dark Raven after winning at Leopardstown
Paul Townend with Dark Raven after winning at Leopardstown (Brian Lawless/PA)

Willie Mullins enjoyed better fortune in the Thorntons Recycling Maiden Hurdle, with even-money favourite Dark Raven maintaining his unbeaten record on his return from a lengthy absence.

The Malinas gelding won twice in the bumper sphere in the spring of 2021, but had not been seen in competitive action since the latter of those triumphs at Fairyhouse 631 days ago.

Paul Townend’s mount proved his ability remains very much intact as he knuckled down to make a successful comeback by three lengths from Doctor Bravo.

Mullins said: “He had setbacks last year and we decided to take the season off, so he’s come back nicely this season. He looks to have an engine and jumps well enough.

“I’m very happy to see him doing it over the minimum trip as well. I’m hoping he’ll improve over further and it looked like he wasn’t stopping at the end anyway.”

Chacun Pour Soi back at his favourite venue

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Chacun Pour Soi bids to prove he is still a force to be reckoned with in the two-mile division in the Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase at Leopardstown on Tuesday.

The Rich and Susannah Ricci-owned gelding has won six times at the highest level, with four of those victories secured at Leopardstown – including in this race in 2020.

His most recent triumph came in the Dublin Chase over the course and distance in February – a race he has won three times – after which he unseated Patrick Mullins in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham before finding stablemate Energumene too strong at Punchestown in the spring.

Chacun Pour Soi will officially turn 11 in less than a week’s time, but connections are hopeful he can show his younger rivals the way home on a track where he clearly excels.

Joe Chambers, racing manager for the owners, said: “He will run on Tuesday and I suspect it will be his best chance of picking up a Grade One this year.

“He loves Leopardstown and the ground seems to be OK, so we’re looking forward to seeing him back out.

“He doesn’t have many miles on the clock, but he is a bit more brittle than some of the younger legs he comes up against over two miles, so I expect we will go out in trip with him later in the year.

“He’s in good form, but we’ll see where we go for the rest of the season with him after Leopardstown.”

Chacun Pour Soi is one of three runners for Willie Mullins in a field of seven, with the three years younger Blue Lord and four years younger Gentleman De Mee also in contention.

Paul Townend and Blue Lord after winning at the Punchestown Festival
Paul Townend and Blue Lord after winning at the Punchestown Festival (Brian Lawless/PA)

Blue Lord won Leopardstown’s Irish Arkle last season and won the Clonmel Oil Chase on his reappearance, while Gentleman De Mee was last seen finishing fourth in the Tingle Creek at Sandown.

Stable jockey Paul Townend rides Chacun Pour Soi, and told Ladbrokes: “He’s back to Leopardstown, he loves it round there.

“He is not getting any younger. I think he ran an absolute screamer at Punchestown behind Energumene last season and if he is anywhere right he will take all the beating.

“Blue Lord is interesting. He won well in Clonmel up in trip but is dropping back to two miles. This is Chacun’s playground and whatever beats him will win.”

Henry de Bromhead fields Fortria Chase victor Captain Guinness and Coeur Sublime, who may well have won the Poplar Square Chase on his seasonal debut but for falling at the final fence.

Andy Dufresne (Gordon Elliott) and Jeremys Flame (Gavin Cromwell) are the other hopefuls.

Patrick Mullins celebrates after winning the Champion Bumper on Facile Vega
Patrick Mullins celebrates after winning the Champion Bumper on Facile Vega (David Davies/PA)

The other Grade One prize up for grabs on day two of the Christmas Festival in County Dublin is the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle, in which Facile Vega is the main attraction.

The star performer in the bumper sphere last season, the five-year-old bolted up on his hurdling bow at Fairyhouse and will be prohibitive odds under Townend to give Mullins a sixth win in the race.

Townend added: He was super in his maiden. He couldn’t do any more than beat what was run against him and I would be very disappointed if he can’t come up trumps again.

“I loved how professional he was in his maiden. We’ve been very happy with him since. He’s exciting.”

Il Etait Temps, Intranet and Ashroe Diamond further strengthen the champion trainer’s hand, with Elliott’s Itswhatunitesus and Path D’oroux both big outsiders.

Fil Dor and Lossiemouth looking to light up day one at Leopardstown

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Fil Dor is widely expected to play a starring role in the feature event on the opening afternoon of the Christmas Festival at Leopardstown.

A winner at Grade Three and Grade Two level over hurdles last season, Gordon Elliott’s grey subsequently found only star juvenile Vauban too strong in Grade Ones at Leopardstown and Punchestown, as well as in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham.

After being beaten by Brazil on his reappearance, the Doctor Dino gelding kicked off his chasing career at Navan last month and was thoroughly impressive in seeing off the high-class Saint Roi.

The pair renew rivalry in the Grade One Brand New Racing Post App Novice Chase, with Fil Dor a warm order to confirm his superiority in the hands of Jack Kennedy.

Joey Logan, racing manager for owners Caldwell Construction Ltd, said: “He’s in good nick and Gordon is very happy with him.

“In the race in Navan he jumped very well. It looked to be a very good beginners chase and he should be bang there, hopefully.”

The Willie Mullins-trained Saint Roi is not the only threat to Fil Dor, with Elliott also saddling Hollow Games, who like his stablemate looked the part on his chasing debut at Navan.

Peter Fahey’s Visionarian and Midnight Run from Joseph O’Brien’s yard complete the field.

“Hollow Games is a very good horse too and Willie’s horse is as well, so it’s a good Grade One, as you would expect,” Logan added.

Lossiemouth on her way to victory at Fairyhouse
Lossiemouth on her way to victory at Fairyhouse (Brian Lawless/PA)

The main supporting race on the first of four excellent days of action on the outskirts of Dublin is the Grade Two Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle, which sees four unbeaten youngsters lock horns.

The hot favourite is Lossiemouth, who sets the standard on her recent Grade Three success at Fairyhouse and is one of two representatives for leading owner Rich Ricci along with new French recruit Jourdefete.

The pair are just two of five runners for the Mullins team along with Gala Marceau, Risk Belle and Aghaboy, with Padraig Roche’s Cougar and Joseph O’Brien’s Nusret adding further spice.

Joe Chambers, Ricci’s racing manager, said: “Lossiemouth looked good the last day. She meets some of the same field again, but Cougar is there for Padraig Roche as is Gala Marceau, whose French form ties in very favourably with Lossiemouth, so it’s going to be a much tougher race for her.

Owner Rich Ricci at Cheltenham
Owner Rich Ricci at Cheltenham (Tim Goode/PA)

“She also has to carry a bit of a penalty for her win the last day so we will be an awful lot wiser about her after this.

“Jourdefete is just starting out and is probably next year’s horse. He is a half-brother to Il Etait Temps, who Willie did something similar with last year.

“We only bought him in May at the Grand-Steeple Sale, so he is running for experience as much as anything else.

“If he wins a Graded race along the way then great – if not, he’ll be a novice hurdler for next season.”

A top-class card gets under way with the All About Sunday Maiden Hurdle – where all eyes will be on one-time Derby favourite High Definition.

High Definition looked like being a real star at one stage on the Flat
High Definition looked like being a real star at one stage on the Flat (PA)

He is now with Joseph O’Brien, who said: “He obviously was a high-quality Flat horse and when you get to run over hurdles, it is then when you get to find out how they have taken to the change of discipline.

“We’re looking forward to seeing how he gets on. We’ve been happy with how he’s jumped.

“We’ll see how Leopardstown goes and hopefully he runs well and then we’ll take it from there.”

Ghaiyyath set to take Irish Champion chance

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Ghaiyyath has been confirmed an intended runner in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday.

Charlie Appleby’s five-year-old has carried all before him this season, winning the Coronation Cup, the Eclipse and the Juddmonte International at York – earning himself the moniker of the best turf horse on the planet.

He is due to gallop on Wednesday morning and should he come through that unscathed then Ghaiyyath will be on the plane to Ireland.

Speaking at lunchtime on Tuesday, Appleby, who has also left in Barney Roy, said: “Ghaiyyath will work tomorrow morning, we will have a final discussion then and if everyone is happy our intention is to fly to Dublin on Saturday morning.”

Ghaiyyath has been unstoppable this season
Ghaiyyath has been unstoppable this season (Mark Cranham/PA)

Aidan O’Brien’s Magical chased Ghaiyaath home at York and is one of six possibles for the Ballydoyle handler – also including Japan and Magic Wand.

John Gosden’s Lord North is still in the mix – as is Jean-Claude Rouget’s Sottsass, who won the Prix du Jockey Club last year.

The other Group One race on the first day of the Longines Irish Champions Weekend is the Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes .

Donnacha O’Brien’s Fancy Blue arguably sets the standard, having won the Prix de Diane and Nassau Stakes this summer already.

Aidan O’Brien has Irish Guineas winner Peaceful, subsequently a neck behind Fancy Blue in France, and Magic Wand in his team.

Fancy Blue claimed Group One glory in the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood
Fancy Blue claimed Group One glory in the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood (George Selwyn/PA)

Johnny Murtagh is another with multiple entries, with Champers Elysees and Know It All among the 13.

There are plenty of promising youngsters in the KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes, including Ger Lyons’ Ides Of August and Jim Bolger’s Jack Duggan.

Aidan O’Brien has four of the 19, with High Definition the only one who remains unbeaten. Joseph O’Brien has six in the mix, including Liffey River.

Simon and Ed Crisford’s Century Dream, John Quinn’s Safe Voyage and David O’Meara’s Escobar are the three British-trained raiders left in the Clipper Logistics Boomerang Mile.

Wichita, Vatican City, Ancient Spirit and Lancaster House are also in the 13.

Ghaiyyath among 13 still in Irish Champion Stakes

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Ghaiyyath is one of 13 possibles at the confirmation stage for the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

Charlie Appleby’s five-year-old has carried all before him this season, winning the Coronation Cup, the Eclipse and the Juddmonte International at York – earning himself the moniker of the best turf horse on the planet.

A final decision on his participation on Saturday has still to be made, but he would be a firm favourite should he line up.

Appleby has also left in Barney Roy.

Aidan O’Brien’s Magical chased Ghaiyaath home at York and is one of six possibles for the Ballydoyle handler – also including Japan and Magic Wand.

John Gosden’s Lord North is still in the mix – as is Jean-Claude Rouget’s Sottsass, who won the Prix du Jockey Club last year.

The other Group One race on the first day of the Longines Irish Champions Weekend is the Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes .

Donnacha O’Brien’s Fancy Blue arguably sets the standard, having won the Prix de Diane and Nassau Stakes this summer already.

Aidan O’Brien has Irish Guineas winner Peaceful, subsequently a neck behind Fancy Blue in France, and Magic Wand in his team.

Johnny Murtagh is another with multiple entries, with Champers Elysees and Know It All among the 13.

There are plenty of promising youngsters in the KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes, including Ger Lyons’ Ides Of August and Jim Bolger’s Jack Duggan.

Aidan O’Brien has four of the 19, with High Definition the only one who remains unbeaten. Joseph O’Brien has six in the mix, including Liffey River.

Simon and Ed Crisford’s Century Dream, John Quinn’s Safe Voyage and David O’Meara’s Escobar are the three British-trained raiders left in the Clipper Logistics Boomerang Mile.

Wichita, Vatican City, Ancient Spirit and Lancaster House are also among the 13.