TEMPLEGATE runs the rule over the awesome Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.
The massive Irish Group 1 (3.25pm) features former Derby king Auguste Rodin in a mouthwatering clash with William Haggas’ red-hot Economics.
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Here, our top tipster goes through every runner and reveals his tip and 1-2-3 prediction at the bottom.
You’ll also find his verdict for the Group 1 Matron Stakes too where Falmouth heroine Porta Fortuna returns in a cracker against Fallen Angel.
Templegate’s Irish Champion Stakes runner-by-runner guide
AUGUSTE RODIN
ROW in with Rodin. He won the Derby last year at Epsom but this is his favourite distance as he showed when winning this race 12 months ago.
He then went to the Breeders’ Cup in the States where he landed one of the most memorable wins of the year.
Ryan Moore went for a daring run up the inside rail and this son of Deep Impact did the rest.
He can throw in a stinker and wouldn’t want too much rain as soft ground isn’t his favourite although he won a Group 1 in the mud as a juvenile.
His trainer Aidan O’Brien has a ridiculous record in this race with 12 wins this century and that counts for a lot.
HANS ANDERSEN
LOOK no Hans. Of course we all know that pacemakers aren’t allowed in racing but you can be certain that his son of Frankel will be on the lead and making sure Auguste Rodin gets the pace he needs.
He has done the same job several times before at this level.
LUXEMBOURG
LOOK at Lux. He’s been a good servant to the Ballydoyle team and has landed a Group 1 in each of his racing seasons.
His most recent success at the top level came with a battling success in the Coronation Cup at Epsom’s Derby meeting.
That was the first time he’d proven himself over the 1m4f trip but this has always been his best distance.
He was no more than a pacemaker for Auguste Rodin at Royal Ascot last time and showed his true colours when beaten just half a length into second in this race 12 months ago.
It’s hard to see him winning but he handles any ground and will give another good account.
ROYAL RHYME
ROYAL flushed. Trainer Karl Burke is having an excellent season and this Lope De Vega colt has not been disgraced when trying this level.
He was beaten less than four lengths in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes by Auguste Rodin before not landing a blow in the Juddmonte International at York last time.
He was a Group 3 winner at Sandown in soft ground earlier this season and that looks more his level than a hot contest like this.
ECONOMICS
HOME in on Economics. William Haggas has brought this potential star along slowly and quickly said he wouldn’t run in any Derby after his impressive six-length win in the Dante at York in May.
He looked pretty raw there and we had to wait until a Group 2 at Deauville last month to see him again.
He certainly wasn’t stopping over 1m2f in either of those contests and looks to have plenty of pace.
His owners sponsor this race and he’ll be primed for a big show getting 6lb off the older horses.
GHOSTWRITER
GHOST has spirit. He has been to all the dances this season and performed well each time.
He was a good fourth in the 1,000 Guineas in May before filling the same spot in the French Derby at Chantilly.
He then got to within two lengths of City Of Troy in the Coral-Eclipse before another excellent effort when taking bronze in the Juddmonte International at York last time.
It would be no shock if he got on the podium again at rewarding odds.
LOS ANGELES
BOSS Los. He was a smart juvenile, landing Group 1 honours in France in October in testing ground.
He kicked off this season with a gutsy success in the Leopardstown Derby Trial before an excellent third in the big race itself at Epsom.
He more than matched that form with a battling victory in the Irish Derby where he got the best of a ding-dong with Sunway.
He stayed over 1m4f to again show his guts when taking the Great Voltigeur at York 24 days ago.
He shapes to me like a horse who would like to go up in trip rather than come back but Aidan O’Brien knows what he’s doing. Won’t be far away but could be outpaced when it matters.
SHIN EMPEROR
KICK in the Shin. Intriguing Japanese filly who has relatively few miles on the clock.
She won a Group 3 over this trip as a juvenile but has not managed to get her head in front this season.
She went close when third in the Japanese Derby last time when the 1m4f trip looked a little on the testing side.
This drop in distance will help as will the three-year-old allowance. She needs to take her form up a notch to figure and a Japanese jockey is always a worry at a European track.
Templegate’s Irish Champion Stakes tip and 1-2-3 prediction
AUGUSTE RODIN can defend his Irish Champion Stakes crown.
We know the Aidan O’Brien star can be a bit of a thinker but his best form is right out of the top drawer.
He saves his best for this trip as we saw with his win in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Economics could be the next superstar for William Haggas who has run him just once since his blistering Dante way in May. He thinks a lot of him which is a tip itself.
1st Auguste Rodin
2nd Economics
3rd Ghostwriter
Templegate’s Matron Stakes verdict
PORTA FORTUNA cemented her place as the best three-year-old filly in training when winning the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket last time without breaking sweat.
That victory came on the back of her Coronation Stakes success at Royal Ascot where she really toughed it out to beat Opera Singer.
The only slight worry is the ground as all those victories came in quick conditions but she won her maiden in the mud.
It will be interesting to see how Fallen Angel gets on given this is her first run since her emphatic Irish 1,000 Guineas win in late May.
She blasted off from the front there and didn’t see another rival and she won the Moyglare as a two-year-old for good measure. She’s nice and fresh and looks the main danger.
Jancis is interesting on her third start after a convincing Group 3 win over seven furlongs here last time out in July. She’s been locked away since then for this race and has solid place claims.
Ylang Ylang has been disappointing this season given she won the Fillies Mile last year. She shapes as though a longer trip than this would help after a poor show here last month.
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