Leopardstown's Irish Champions Festival showcases intense competition and international talent.
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Leopardstown is poised to kick off the much-anticipated two-day Irish Champions Festival this Saturday. The event’s highlight will be the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes, a premier race attracting top-tier competitors from domestic and international stables.
Key Competitors in the Spotlight
The Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes, scheduled for 5:30 PM, will feature a thrilling lineup, including overseas contender Shin Emperor from Japan, alongside British-trained horses Anmaat and Royal Champion. Each participant will face stiff competition from a strong home challenge, making for an exhilarating race.
Aidan O’Brien’s Delacroix stands as the current favorite. The horse has previously won twice over the course and distance at Leopardstown, further solidifying its credentials. Due to the absence of the injured Ryan Moore and the suspended Wayne Lordan, Belgian jockey Christophe Soumillon will take the reins.
O’Brien has a remarkable record, having won this race six out of the last seven years, and he aims for his thirteenth career victory in this prestigious contest.
Contenders and Their Form
Among the challengers, Anmaat has made a name for himself as a two-time Group 1 winner, including a victory at last season’s Champion Stakes on British Champions Day at Ascot. Trained by Owen Burrows, the seven-year-old will be ridden by Chris Hayes. However, history shows that no horse aged seven has ever triumphed in this race, adding an intriguing narrative to Anmaat’s participation.
Shin Emperor, trained by Yoshito Yahagi, comes into the race following a third-place finish in last year’s Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes. The horse has not run since finishing seventh in the Sheema Classic at Meydan last April. The forecast of rain could present a challenge, as the Japanese horse is accustomed to a firmer track.
Additional Noteworthy Entrants
Another notable competitor is Zahrann, a three-year-old trained by Johnny Murtagh. This son of Night Of Thunder will carry the colors of the Exors of the Late H H Aga Khan, with Ben Coen set to ride. Murtagh seeks his first success in this feature race with Zahrann, currently rated at 113.
White Birch is also in the mix, known for winning last season’s Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at The Curragh. He will be represented by leading flat jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle, aiming to make an impact after being absent from the racetrack since May.
Royal Champion, the Group 2 York Stakes winner from Karl Burke’s yard, will be ridden by Clifford Lee. The seven-year-old Shamardal offspring will compete at his preferred distance of 1 mile 2 furlongs.
Jessica Harrington’s Hotazhell, who last won the 2024 Group 1 William Hill Futurity Trophy Stakes at Doncaster, will also look to make an impression in the Irish Champion Stakes, while Mount Kilimanjaro is expected to set the pace under Ronan Whelan, representing the same trainer and ownership as Delacroix.
