Eve Johnson Houghton pitches 'probably the best horse I've trained' against Aidan O'Brien starlets in Sunday's National Stakes

Eve Johnson Houghton is no stranger to success at the Irish Champions Festival and the Oxfordshire trainer returns to the Curragh on Sunday with potentially the best horse she has trained in Zavateri.

Unbeaten in three starts, most recently the Group 2 Vintage Stakes at Goodwood, the Without Parole colt faces five rivals in the Group 1 Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes, including three from the Aidan O’Brien stable which won the race most recently with Henry Longfellow two years ago.

Ballydoyle's Gstaad looks likely to start odds-on favourite, but Johnson Houghton is by no means daunted by the challenge facing Zavateri.

“He’s in great form,” she said. “He looks great, and has done well since Goodwood.

• Irish Champions Festival: strong six-runner field for National Stakes as unbeaten British duo take on three from Ballydoyle 

“Aidan has got three in there – listen, it is what it is – but I’ve a lot of faith in my horse. Without doubt he’s one of the best – probably the best – I’ve ever trained so I’ve got to be hopeful.”

Gstaad: favourite for the National StakesCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Johnson Houghton landed the Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sale Stakes at this meeting with Streets Of Gold in 2022, and five years earlier saddled Ice Age to win the Irish Stallion Farms ‘Bold Lad’ Sprint Handicap.

The trainer believes the National Stakes fits in perfectly to Zavateri’s itinerary, which will take in Newmarket’s Group 1 Darley Dewhurst Stakes next month if all goes to expectations at the Curragh.

Zavateri is quoted at 6-1 by bookmakers for the Dewhurst, two points behind 4-1 favourite Gstaad.  

In addition to the heavyweight Ballydoyle battalions, Zavateri will lock horns with Charlie Appleby’s unbeaten Saba Desert, winner of the Group 2 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket in July, and the Joseph O’Brien-trained North Coast.

Joseph O’Brien has won three of the last five National Stakes, via Scorthy Champ (2024), Al Riffa (2022) and Thunder Moon (2020).

The blockbuster card features another three Group 1s, with the top two-year-old fillies set to clash in the Moyglare Stud Stakes (2.40). Composing will face her toughest opponent yet in the unbeaten Albany, Duchess of Cambridge and Prix Morny winner Venetian Sun.

Nine go to post in the Comer Group International Irish St Leger, a field that includes Al Riffa, Illinois and the unbeaten Amiloc for trainer Ralph Beckett.

The Bar One Racing Flying Five Stakes (3.15) is wide open with 16 runners, including Aussie mare Asfoora, the mount of Dylan Browne McMonagle, and Amo Racing's Bucanero Fuerte and Arizona Blaze.

Read more:

Irish Champions Festival: strong six-runner field for National Stakes as unbeaten British duo take on three from Ballydoyle 

Confirmed runners and riders for the St Leger at Doncaster on Saturday as Ballydoyle jockey bookings are revealed 

'He looks the clear value' - why this horse can win at the St Leger meeting or the Irish Champions Festival 

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