The Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes so often draws a field to rival the St Leger for prominence nowadays, with this year being no exception. Joe Napier previews the race and gives his verdict.
It was much more up than down for Auguste Rodin when he came roaring back to form in winning this race last season.
ECONOMICS
(William Haggas/Tom Marquand)
Both the breakout star and the unknown quantity in this field, Economics has not proven himself at Group 1 level yet, but the impression he has left during his three starts this season is that he will be doing so very soon. He has won all three including some sumptuous triumphs, most notably a six-length success in the Dante at York, though he was not supplemented for the Derby.
Brief injury hitches ensured he was not seen again until August when winning the Group 2 Prix Guillaume d’Ornano at Deauville. He would have done extremely well to just win that day having been held up in rear, but he eventually did so by booting clear with a late thrust by two lengths, pulling eight lengths clear of the third. The promise is self-evident, but this will test his burgeoning hold-up style given Ballydoyle run four. He is the likeliest winner if things go his way though.
AUGUSTE RODIN
(Aidan O’Brien/Ryan Moore)
Last season, Auguste Rodin bounced back from a huge disappointment in the King George by winning the Irish Champion Stakes. Lo and behold, he was disappointing in the King George again last time out, albeit to a lesser degree than in 2023, but he proved his distance versatility yet again prior to that, claiming the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.
That was his sixth Group 1 triumph, secured under a typically power-packed Ryan Moore ride, but among Group 1s in the UK this season, it would rank fairly low. Plenty of the form has not worked out versus this year’s Derby winner City Of Troy and his Juddmonte success, and despite his 1m2f form reading 121, he has always given the impression he is vulnerable at this trip regardless of whether he is in the mood.
LOS ANGELES
(Aidan O’Brien/Dylan Browne McMonagle)
The fact that Los Angeles runs here and not in the St Leger is a testament to his reputation within Aidan O’Brien’s yard. Even though Auguste Rodin is the number one, and this may not have been chosen purely because of the race’s suitability, it does mean they think he has Arc potential, as this should prove a better warm-up for the Longchamp contest than the more stamina-sapping St Leger.
1m4f would surely be his optimum trip now he has an Irish Derby and a Great Voltigeur under his belt, so this shorter distance may take him out of his comfort zone. Nevertheless, while Economics has been impressive in winning three of his four starts overall, Los Angeles is now five from six, so should not be dismissed as a mere slugger. If he remains in contention with a furlong to run, there will be few ducking their head down with more vigour.
GHOSTWRITER
(Clive Cox/Richard Kingscote)
Poor Ghostwriter has not received any credit for what has been a thoroughly decent season in many respects. Fourth in the 2000 Guineas and the Prix Du Jockey Club, the former when Newmarket did not appear to suit, and the latter when the ground was too testing, were very reputable efforts, though nothing compared to his two third-placed efforts behind City Of Troy of late.
The first of those came on soft in the Eclipse, where he was a very serious threat for the majority of the last two furlongs. Subsequently, he ran another belter in the Juddmonte when the winner had first run throughout, though he was nearly four lengths clear of the fourth and beat the majority of the field easily. No City Of Troy this time gives him a fine chance of going even closer.
THE FIELD
Luxembourg may have won his Group 1 for the year when winning a terrible edition of the Coronation Cup over 1m4f. However, 1m2f is more of his distance, winning this two years ago and losing by just half-a-length last term. He is not entirely ruled out if racing near the pace pans out in his favour.
Japanese viewers will take a keen interest in how Shin Emperor performs, with a view to the Arc in a few weeks. He was fifth in the Japanese 2000 Guineas, run over 1m2f, and third in their Derby, so he has acquitted himself with credit, though this may not be a priority if Longchamp is indeed the main goal.
Royal Rhyme is proving a very reliable midfield yardstick at this level (fifth of eight, fifth of ten and sixth of 13 in Group 1s) but surely cannot win this bar numerous underperformance, while Hans Andersen will go off like the clappers before getting out the way.
VERDICT
He will have to be as talented as hoped to overcome a field 50% of which hails from Aidan O’Brien’s yard, but ECONOMICS could well be up to the task. His victory last time out in France was secured in sensational fashion given where he came from and he could have so much more to offer. However, if he is held up, this could become tricky, with O’Brien’s charges almost certain to set this up primarily for Auguste Rodin’s benefit, though the other three-year-olds in Ghostwriter and Los Angeles may provide even sterner opposition, and the former would be taken for the forecast. Shin Emperor is naturally a less known quantity, but the suspicion is this race is a stepping stone for the Arc in three weeks’ time.
- Economics
- Ghostwriter
- Los Angeles
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