Pre-conditions about the ground conditions are swirling around the participation of some of the other leading contenders for Saturday's QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes but Dermot Weld confirms Free Eagle a "definite runner" in the €1.1 million highlight.
Much of the run-in to the ‘Longines Irish Champions Weekend’ is set to revolve around the state of the going at Leopardstown which kicks off the €4million two-day extravaganza by hosting a Champion Stakes which could wind up Europe’s race of the season – if the ground is quick.
Aidan O'Brien has indicated his star three-year-old Gleneagles needs a minimum of good ground if he is to line up while John Gosden states his Derby winner Golden Horn will run at Leopardstown if the going is no worse than good to soft.
A dry start to this week is forecast to turn more unsettled by the weekend which could leave uncertainty about the final line-up for the Champion Stakes hanging over ‘Champions Weekend’ even after final declarations for the big race on Thursday.
Golden Horn continues to top ante-post betting lists but Free Eagle is a clear second favourite to build on his maiden Group 1 success in June’s Prince Of Wales’s Stakes when he edged out last year’s Champion winner, The Great Gatsby.
“It was pretty fast when Free Eagle won at Ascot and he is very effective on good to firm ground. He is a very good auctioned horse and has a preference for good to firm but he’s a definite runner on Saturday,” Weld said.
“It’s good at Leopardstown at the moment and it is meant to be dry for the next few days which should help things. They could get showers later in the week but it is very unlikely things are going to get heavy or anything. Our horse is in good form and is preparing well,” he added.
Major hope
In contrast, Weld’s major hope for Sunday’s Palmerstown House Irish St Leger at the Curragh, Forgotten Rules, requires substantial give in the ground although the trainer’s other major ‘Champions Weekend’ Group 1 hope, the unbeaten Tanaza in the Moyglare Stud Stakes is versatile in terms of ground.
“Forgotten Rules ran the day after Free Eagle at Ascot and found it too quick. He does need a good dig in it. The filly Zannda is also in the Leger and I haven’t made my mind up about her. She could go for the Group 3 over a mile and a half (KPMG Enterprise Stakes) at Leopardstown instead.
“Tanaza likes a little cut but she won on fast ground at Leopardstown and she goes for the Moyglare. We will be selective in what we run over the whole weekend. It’s very competitive, a wonderful showcase and everyone’s looking forward to it,” Weld said.
Now Or Never, runner up in the Futurity at the Curragh against colts on her last start, is also set to line up in the Moyglare, providing conditions are suitable.
“It was a big ask to try and make the running against the colts in the Futurity. She did all the hard work, and it was only her third start. She’s come out of it well and is working well at home,” said her trainer Michael o’Callaghan.
“A bigger field in the Moyglare will suit her. She won’t run on good to firm, but will run on genuine good ground. We’d like a bit of cut,” he added.
Jessica Harrington has confirmed Sunday's Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes is the next stop for her unbeaten Anglesey winner Final Frontier.
“He’s been good and we’re very happy with him. He’s done everything I’ve asked of him so far and has had a little bit of a break since his last start,” the trainer said.
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