Rip Van Winkle: Juddmonte International winner heads Aidan O'Brien team

  PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)  

O'Brien runs three in bid for sixth Irish Champion

AIDAN O'BRIEN will be represented by Rip Van Winkle, Beethoven and Cape Blanco in his quest for a sixth Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes on Saturday, as all three horses were declared on Thursday morning.

Johnny Murtagh is set to ride Rip Van Winkle with Seamie Heffernan on Cape Blanco and Joseph O'Brien on Beethoven.

Heffernan has ridden Cape Blanco only once on the track, when partnering this year's Irish Derby winner to victory in a 7f maiden at Fairyhouse on his debut last season, while O'Brien's son Joseph has ridden Beethoven in all of the colt's three races this season, including the Group 3 Desmond Stakes at Leopardstown last month when the 17-year-old achieved his first Pattern-race success.

The Dermot Weld-trained Famous Name also featured among the six runners left in the Group 1, won last year by the all-conquering Sea The Stars. There had been some doubt over the 25-1 shot's participation with the Prix du Moulin considered a possible alternative target.

Famous Name's owner Khalid Abdullah will also run 7-2 second favourite Twice Over, while Sea Lord, who was supplimented at a cost of €75,000 and will be ridden by Kieren Fallon for Mark Johnston, completes the line-up.

Henry Cecil, trainer of Twice Over, told his website: "It obviously will be a tough race and we would like a little rain, which would be an advantage to him.  Still we are hopeful of his chance."