The early favourites for the Irish Champion Stakes

With a prize purse in excess of €1m, it’s no surprise that the Irish Champion Stakes is considered to be one of the best races in the world, and attracts only the finest horses from the world of flat racing. Raced over one mile and two furlongs, the Group 1 race isn’t due to take place at Leopardstown until 11 September, but bettors will already be licking their lips as they look at the racecard on the best horse racing betting sites, as the star-studded lineup takes shape. 

That said, read on as we take a look at this year’s early closers and favourites, who are looking to add their name to the Irish Champion Stakes incredible roll of honours — which includes the likes of recent dual winner Magical, Roaring Lion and Sea The Stars.

St Mark’s Basilica 

Aidan O’Brien-trained St Mark’s Basilica was disappointingly forced to withdraw from The Yorkshire Ebor Festival, where he was the favourite to win the Juddmonte International Stakes, due to a cut sustained to his leg. However, the good news is that the three-year-old will make it back for the Irish Champion Stakes, and he’s the unsurprising favourite. After the surprise victory from 10/1 in the Group 1 Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket last October, St Mark’s Basilica has really kicked on this season, winning the top-group Poule d'Essai des Poulains and the Prix du Jockey Club at Longchamp and Chantilly respectively, before landing another Group 1 victory in the UK, the Sandown Eclipse. He’ll be the star of the show at Leopardstown, and it’s going to take something special to stop him! 

Tarnawa

Tarnawa had quite the season last year, winning a Group 3 race at Cork before back-to-back Group 1 victories at Longchamp, in the Prix Vermeille and Prix de l'Opera Longines respectively. Her international success didn’t end there either, as she headed stateside for the Breeders’ Cup Turf, winning the Group 1 race at Keeneland by one length clear of Magical. The Dermot Weld-trained horse has started this season in similar fashion, winning the Group 3 Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown, and she’ll likely have a crack at the Yorkshire Oaks before heading back to Ireland for the Champion Stakes. That little bit more in the legs could help her topple St Mark’s Basilica. 

Poetic Flare

Poetic Flare, owned and trained by Jim Bolger, has been somewhat of a mixed bag this season. He started the year with a victory in the 2,000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown, and in his next outing, he won the historic Group 1 race at Newmarket from 16/1, beating Master Of The Seas over the line by a shorthead. But he has struggled for consistency since, winning just once in five races — albeit it in the renowned St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot in June. He was beaten by the neck of Palace Pier, one of the world’s best one-milers last time out in the Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville. So, rule Poetic Flare out of putting up a challenge at your peril! 

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Mishriff, Love, who hasn’t been able to really hit the same heights as last season, and Addeybb, another horse who hasn’t kicked on from last year, are all next in line in the current Irish Champion Stakes betting market.