Eight Competitors Set for Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes

The Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes is set to take place at Leopardstown on Saturday, attracting a competitive field of eight horses. The race, part of the two-day Irish Champions Festival, will commence at 17:30 local time. International competitors include Shin Emperor from Japan and British-trained runners Anmaat and Royal Champion, facing a robust home challenge in this prestigious 1 mile 2 furlong contest.

Current favorite for the Group 1 race is Aidan O’Brien’s Delacroix, who has previously clinched victory twice over the same course and distance. With regular jockey Ryan Moore sidelined due to injury and Wayne Lordan suspended, Belgian rider Christophe Soumillon will take the reins of the son of Dubawi. O’Brien has enjoyed remarkable success in this event, winning six out of the last seven years and seeking his thirteenth overall victory.

Challenging Delacroix is Anmaat, a seven-year-old trained by Owen Burrows. A two-time Group 1 winner, Anmaat triumphed in last season’s Champion Stakes at Ascot. Despite his experience, historical patterns suggest that no horse aged seven has ever won this particular race. Chris Hayes will ride Anmaat as he aims to secure another significant win.

Japanese contender Shin Emperor, trained by Yoshito Yahagi, returns to the track after finishing third in last season’s Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes. His last outing was at the Sheema Classic in Meydan last April, where he finished seventh. Rain is forecast overnight, potentially creating soft ground conditions that may challenge the Japanese raider, who typically performs better on firmer surfaces.

Among the home challengers, Zahrann, a three-year-old trained by Johnny Murtagh, will carry the colours of the Exors of the Late H H Aga Khan. Rated 113, Zahrann aims to deliver a strong performance in his first attempt at this level. Another notable entry is White Birch, who will have leading flat jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle in the saddle. The grey has not raced since May, when he secured a third-place finish in this year’s Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup.

Karl Burke’s Royal Champion, a Group 2 York Stakes winner, will also compete, guided by Clifford Lee. The seven-year-old son of Shamardal is expected to perform well at his preferred distance of 1 mile 2 furlongs. Hotazhell, trained by Jessica Harrington, aims for a breakthrough victory in the Irish Champion Stakes, having last won the 2024 Group 1 William Hill Futurity Trophy Stakes at Doncaster. Meanwhile, Mount Kilimanjaro, who previously placed in Group 1 races as a juvenile, will likely set the pace under Ronan Whelan.

As the excitement builds for the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes, the combination of international and local talent promises an exhilarating racing experience at Leopardstown.