Racing: The news that Bago will not take part in Saturday's Baileys Irish Champion Stakes, and other reports of a scintillating work-out on the Newmarket gallops by Doyen, have resulted in the Godolphin superstar becoming an even hotter favourite for the big race.
The Paddy Power firm reacted by cutting Doyen to 11 to 10 for Leopardstown's 1 million feature after what they described as "real good money" for the favourite.
His price may go even shorter after confirmation of the defection of the French-trained three- year-old Bago who will miss out on Leopardstown and will instead wait for Sunday's Prix Niel at Longchamp.
Godolphin, who have won five of the last 10 renewals of the Champion Stakes, will also run Millstreet as a pacemaker in the race as Doyen drops back to a mile and a quarter from the King George.
"He has shown a lot of speed and we have Millstreet to ensure a good pace. He is dropping back to a mile and a quarter but Doyen has the class to run a big race. I'm really happy with him and he goes into the race in good form," said the Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor.
Doyen galloped at Newmarket on Tuesday with his stable companion Naheef and he did enough for Frankie Dettori to exclaim: "He's some horse - scary - and he feels fantastic." All five of the Godolphin winners have been older horses and the recent record of three-year-olds in the race is poor with only Giants Causeway (2000) winning for the classic generation.
The older brigade look like being without one representative, however, as Clive Brittain yesterday described last weekend's Baden-Baden winner Warrsan as "unlikely" to run at Leopardstown.
"He has taken the German race really well but it's almost as if you're taking him off one plane and putting him on another. I would say he is unlikely to go to Ireland," Brittain said.
The Newmarket trainer has until this morning to finally make up his mind when the final 48 hour declarations will be made.
One team already anxious for the off is the Norse Dancer camp who are hoping to go one better than his second to Sulamani in the Juddmonte at York.
There will be an Irish interest in the Golden Jubilee Sceptre Stakes at Doncaster this afternoon as Michael Grassick sends the seven length Curragh winner Poetical for the Listed contest. Niall McCullagh will ride.
Paddy Power bet: 11-10 Doyen, 9-2 Grey Swallow, 5 Rakti, 11-2 Azamour 8 Bago, 14 Warrsan & Powerscourt, 16 Bar.
