17:00
Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes (Group 1)
Group 1, Class 1, 1m2f, Flat, 3yo+, €725,001, 8 runners
Winning time 2m 2.53s
- Going
- Good
- Surface
- Turf
Tip for this race
All today's tips ›Almaqam holds a narrow edge at the head of these ratings, but this is a fiercely competitive Class 1 over ten furlongs at Leopardstown and the low confidence here reflects how closely matched the principals are. Constitution River is the most obvious threat and, rated only three pounds below Almaqam, will need to be respected, while Item and Lambourn also have the ability to make this a genuine contest if conditions suit. With the caveat that this is far from a clear-cut call, Almaqam is our selection.
Result
Shane Foley
Mrs John Harrington
Settled midpack - 5th at halfway - driven and angled right approaching 2f out - moved into 2nd and drifted left inside the final furlong - got up close home to prevail
Christophe Soumillon
George Scott
Settled at the back - niggled into contention down the straight - moved into 3rd in the final 100 yards and stayed on strongly - beaten a short head
Ryan Moore
A P O'Brien
Settled behind front group - third turning halfway - driven into command approaching final furlong while drifting left - overtaken close home - held on grimly for third
Kieran Shoemark
Ed Walker
Sluggish start and driven up early - sat behind front group and 4th at halfway - down to 6th and urged over 1f out - stayed on same gait late to finish 4th
Oisin Murphy
Donnacha Aidan O'Brien
Settled towards the back early - improved position entering straight - driven through to third a furlong out but checked in run - unable to find more late finishing 5th beaten 2.75L
Colin Keane
Andrew Balding
Settled towards the back of the field - 6th at halfway - driven approaching the straight with little response inside the final two furlongs - stayed on same gear to finish sixth
Pierre-Charles Boudot
A P O'Brien
Sat close to pace and second by halfway - driven up to dispute lead approaching 2f out - checked in traffic entering final furlong and held on for 4th before finishing 7th
Declan McDonogh
A P O'Brien
Driven on to strike the front early - held a two length advantage by halfway - urged again entering the straight - overtaken a furlong out and knocked back sharply soon after in traffic - lost touch late to finish eighth
Racecard
Kieran Shoemark
Ed Walker 4/45
Placed second last time out and a winner three starts back, Almaqam brings solid recent form into this, and he has run over today's trip and going before; carrying 135 lb from stall 8 is the one note of caution, but a rating of 130 marks him as the one to beat.
- Sire
- Lope De Vega (IRE)
- Dam
- Talmada (USA) by Cape Cross
- Owner
- Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum
- Foaled
- 20 Mar 2021
- Stable
- Upper Lambourn, Berks
- Trainer last 14 days
- 4 wins from 45 runs (9%)
- Trainer running to form
- 52%
- Ratings
- Perf 130, Speed 113
Shane Foley
Mrs John Harrington 2/31
Hotazhell won last time out but is ranked seventh of eight on our figures, with a speed rating of 105 suggesting he has plenty to find here; his effort three starts back was subsequently wiped out by disqualification, though he has distance and going experience and draws stall one.
- Sire
- Too Darn Hot (GB)
- Dam
- Azenzar (GB) by Danehill Dancer
- Owner
- Silverton Hill Partnership
- Foaled
- 31 Mar 2022
- Stable
- Moone, Co Kildare
- Trainer last 14 days
- 2 wins from 31 runs (6%)
- Trainer running to form
- 52%
- Ratings
- Perf 117, Speed 105
Declan McDonogh
A P O'Brien 5/37
Lambourn shaped with promise when winning five starts back and retains experience over today's trip and going, but he has been out 49 days and his last four runs have yielded only a third four starts back — a return to that level is required here.
- Sire
- Australia (GB)
- Dam
- Gossamer Wings (USA) by Scat Daddy
- Owner
- Mrs John Magnier Michael Tabor Derrick Smith
- Foaled
- 24 Apr 2022
- Stable
- Cashel, Co Tipperary
- Trainer last 14 days
- 5 wins from 37 runs (14%)
- Trainer running to form
- 70%
- Ratings
- Perf 120, Speed 109
Christophe Soumillon
George Scott 3/16
Ranked bottom of the field on our figures, Wimbledon Hawkeye faces a stiff ask at 135 lb from stall seven, though he arrives with fair recent form — a winner last time out and placed in two of his four starts before that — and has run over today's distance and going before.
- Sire
- Kameko (USA)
- Dam
- Eva Maria (GB) by Sea The Stars
- Owner
- Victorious Forever
- Foaled
- 24 Feb 2022
- Stable
- Newmarket, Suffolk
- Trainer last 14 days
- 3 wins from 16 runs (19%)
- Trainer running to form
- 58%
- Ratings
- Perf 117, Speed 106
Oisin Murphy
Donnacha Aidan O'Brien 1/18
Won last time out and has run over today's distance and going before, but has been placed rather than winning in four of his last five starts, and 129 lb is a stiff burden; drawn in stall two and rated 119 by us, he merits respect without inspiring full confidence.
- Sire
- Starspangledbanner (AUS)
- Dam
- Soho Susie (IRE) by Montjeu
- Owner
- Ana Obrien
- Foaled
- 20 Apr 2023
- Stable
- Ballyroe, Co Tipperary
- Trainer last 14 days
- 1 wins from 18 runs (6%)
- Trainer running to form
- 43%
- Ratings
- Perf 119, Speed 99
Ryan Moore
A P O'Brien 5/37
Constitution River arrives in fine nick, a winner four times in his last five starts with a third on his most recent outing 24 days ago, and he has experience of both today's trip and going; at 129 lb, the weight he shoulders is the one factor to keep onside.
- Sire
- Wootton Bassett (GB)
- Dam
- Chuppy (FR) by Le Havre
- Owner
- M Tabor D Smith Mrs J Magnier Westerberg
- Foaled
- 28 Mar 2023
- Stable
- Cashel, Co Tipperary
- Trainer last 14 days
- 5 wins from 37 runs (14%)
- Trainer running to form
- 70%
- Ratings
- Perf 127, Speed 106
Pierre-Charles Boudot
A P O'Brien 5/37
Hawk Mountain shaped well enough in recent starts, third two starts back and a winner four starts back, but a sixth last time out clouds his claims here; he has run over today's trip and going, returns after 24 days, and carries 129 lb from stall 5.
- Sire
- Wootton Bassett (GB)
- Dam
- Hydrangea (IRE) by Galileo
- Owner
- Derrick Smith Mrs John Magnier Michael Tabor
- Foaled
- 27 Mar 2023
- Stable
- Cashel, Co Tipperary
- Trainer last 14 days
- 5 wins from 37 runs (14%)
- Trainer running to form
- 70%
- Ratings
- Perf 119, Speed 106
Colin Keane
Andrew Balding 16/78
Item arrives in terrific nick, winning four in his last five starts including back-to-back victories, and he has experience of today's distance and going; the nine in between those runs is the one form blemish to keep onside.
- Sire
- Frankel (GB)
- Dam
- Capla Temptress (IRE) by Lope De Vega
- Owner
- Juddmonte
- Foaled
- 31 Mar 2023
- Stable
- Kingsclere, Hants
- Trainer last 14 days
- 16 wins from 78 runs (21%)
- Trainer running to form
- 68%
- Ratings
- Perf 123, Speed 103
Draw in brackets. Headgear: b blinkers, v visor, h hood, t tongue strap, p cheekpieces, e/s eye shield; ¹ first time. C course winner, D distance winner, CD course and distance winner. Form reads oldest to newest.