The Group One Irish Champion Stakes is staged at Leopardstown racecourse and run over a distance of 1m2f.
In recent years, the race has been dominated by trainer Aiden O’Brien – he’s won the race nine times since 2000, including for the last two years with his classy mare – Magical. Can he make it ten in 2021?
We are on-hand with all the key stats ahead of the 2020 renewal – this year run on Saturday 12th Sept 2020.
Irish Champion Stakes Recent Winners
2020 – Magical (9/2)
2019 – Magical (11/10 fav)
2018 – Roaring Lion (8/11 fav)
2017 – Decorated Knight (25/1)
2016 – Almanzor (7/1)
2015 – Golden Horn (5/4 fav)
2014 – The Grey Gatsby (7/1)
2013 – The Fugue (4/1)
2012 – Snow Fairy (15/8)
2011 – So You Think (1/4 fav)
2010 – Cape Blanco (6/1)
2009 – Sea The Stars (4/6 fav)
2008 – New Approach (8/13 fav)
2007 – Dylan Thomas (8/15 fav)
2006 – Dylan Thomas (13/8 fav)
2005 – Oratorio (7/1)
2004 – Azamour (8/1)
2003 – High Chaparral (4/1)
Irish Champion Stakes Betting Trends
19/19 – Previous Group 1 winner
18/19 – Returned 8/1 or shorter in the betting
17/19 – Won 4 or more times before
17/19 – Had won over 1m2f before
16/19 – Finished in the top 3 last time out
16/19 – Ran at York, Sandown or Ascot last time out
15/19 – Aged 3 or 4 years-old
14/19 – Had 4 or more previous runs that season
14/19 – Rated 120+
14/19 – Placed favourites
11/19 – Trained in Ireland
10/19 – Aged 3 years-old
9/19 – Won last time out8/19 – Winning favourites
8/19 – Previous course winners
8/19 – Trained by Aidan O’Brien
5/19 – Returned odds-on
3/19 – Trained by John Gosden (3 of the last 8)
3/19 – Ridden by Seamie Heffernan
2/19 – Won the Coral Eclipse last time out
The average winning SP in the last 19 years is 4/1
RACING AHEAD VERDICT: Just the four runners and really with Patrick Sarsfield rated 10lbs+ inferior to the others, then it will be a shock if this isn’t going to one of three – Tarnawa, Poetic Flare and St Mark’s Basilica. It should be a good race between the trio though and you can certainly make a case for them all. English 2000 Guineas winner – Poetic Flare – also added the St James’s Palace Stakes to his CV this season and has since run well in the Sussex Stakes and a G1 in France – beaten just a neck to the classy Palace Pier. However, he’s stepping up to 1m2f here and that would be the concern – he’s yet to try this trip and breeding and running style suggests it’s a bit of a lottery if he’ll get the extra yardage. The Dermot Weld-trained Tarnawa has won her last five and returned after 9 months off to win well here over 1m4f last time out. She stayed on really well that day to win going away and she’s a proven Group One winner in France and don’t forget she landed the Breeders’ Cup Turf in 2020 so is a very classy mare. It’s hard to crab her chance, but I just return to the trip again and feel the Aidan O’Brien runner – ST MARK’S BASILICA, who was so impressive in winning the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown in July, is the one to be on. He’s now won his last four G1 races and this 1m2f trip looks ideal for him. Yes, he’s not raced here at the track before, but there is no reason to think it won’t suit and being a 3 year-old he gets a handy 3lbs from Tarnawa too. Ryan Moore heads over to ride and he’s taken to give trainer Aidan O’Brien his tenth success in this contest.
