Racing: Doyen remains on track for Saturday's Baileys Irish Champion Stakes in which his jockey Frankie Dettori will be aiming to join Michael Kinane as the most successful rider in the history of the Leopardstown Group One.
Dettori is currently one behind Kinane's total of five Champion Stakes victories but between them they have had a remarkable stranglehold on the big race.
The last seven renewals have been carved up exclusively between Kinane and Dettori and the bookmakers reckon Doyen has a favourite's chance of keeping the hot streak going with Paddy Power pricing the King George winner at 11 to 8.
After yesterday's forfeit stage, a total of 13 horses have been left in including Millstreet and Vespone from the Godolphin team. One of those two will be used to guarantee a good pace for Doyen.
Yet again however Dettori's main rival could be Kinane, set to be on board the John Oxx-trained Azamour, who warmed up for the big race with a post-race gallop at the Curragh on Sunday.
"It's been almost three months since his last race at Ascot so we took him to the Curragh to stretch his legs and give him a look. He did a nice piece of work over seven furlongs without being pushed," said Oxx.
Azamour will be racing beyond a mile for the first time on Saturday but that is less of a concern to connections than the length of time since his last start.
"It's a fair interval, especially since it looks like being probably the best race of the year. But he hasn't missed any work and he was ready for York. Having said that there must be a little concern that he might not just be as razor sharp as he might," Oxx added.
One plus point for Azamour is the state of the ground at Leopardstown which was yesterday described as being "firm." With a dry week forecast, the Leopardstown authorities have decided to start watering today.
It's 13 years since Suave Dancer secured the last French success in the Champion Stakes but Bago was left in the race yesterday along with Sunday's Group One Baden Baden winner Warrsan.
Aidan O'Brien can pick from three but Powerscourt is the likely Ballydoyle contender with Yesterday more likely to go for the day's other Group One, the Coolmore Matron Stakes.
That main supporting race will feature round two of the Attraction versus Soviet Song rivalry.
The newly-promoted Group one got the perfect boost yesterday when both fillies were committed to it and other names that could start include Favourable Terms and Yesterday.
Soviet Song emerged best from her previous clash with the dual-Guineas heroine Attraction when winning the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket's July meeting.
O'Brien gives Tumblebrutus a first start in four months at Galway today but the conditions look to be in the favour of Giants Causeway's full brother.
Tumblebrutus ended his two year old campaign in the USA but a Futurity second to Pearl Of Love gives him a rating of 104 and if he runs to that it will be hard for his opposition here.
Jamie Spencer could enjoy a good session with Hills Of Aran likely to appreciate the mile in the maiden and Tipper Road a good looking ride in the mile and a half handicap.
IRISH CHAMPION STAKES BETTING
Paddy Power: 11-8 Doyen, 9-2 Grey Swallow, 11-2 Azamour, 6 Rakti, 8 Bago, 12 Warrsan, 14 Powerscourt, 20 Bar.
