Eminent and Dettori to take on Ballydoyle stars at Leopardstown

Whoever Aidan O'Brien runs in Saturday's €1.25 million Qipco Irish Champion Stakes looks assured of a stiffer British challenge than was anticipated, as Martyn Meade plans to send stable star Eminent to Leopardstown.

The Newmarket trainer had previously spoken of preparing Eminent for a tilt at the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, for which he is a 16-1 chance.

However, the Irish Champion Stakes is now the plan, when Eminent will have a fourth different rider in four runs with Frankie Dettori is set to take the ride.

News – revealed by the Racing Post on Tuesday – that there had been a change of tack with the son of Frankel, led to bookmakers cutting his Irish Champion Stakes odds to 8-1 (from 10), with some firms quoting just 5-1, in a market headed by the O'Brien-trained Churchill.

Stablemate Winter was left in the race by O'Brien at Tuesday's forfeit stage and her odds were cut to 6-1 (from 10), while Churchill eased to 11-10 with Paddy Power and Betfair Sportsbook, having been odds-on across the board on Tuesday morning.

Eminent showed his liking for sharp tracks and a mile and a quarter when making all to win the Group 2 Guillaume d'Ornano at Deauville last time out.

Ryan Moore, who rode Eminent that day, is required for O'Brien, but Meade's hope will be in good hands, with Dettori having won the race six times already, most recently with Golden Horn in 2015.

After watching his strapping colt work six furlongs on the Limekilns on Tuesday morning, Meade told the Racing Post: "I'm happy with how Eminent is shaping at the moment and he almost went off the end of the gallop, which is a good sign.

"We feel he'll be suited by the track at Leopardstown as he enjoyed it at Deauville, and there's no reason not to run."

As for the opposition, Meade said: "I'd be more worried about Winter if she runs rather than Churchill as we would have to give the filly weight."

He added: "Eminent has had an active time this year and has coped very well but unless he won impressively this weekend we may miss the Arc and put him away for next year."

Dettori said: "I'm delighted to be riding Eminent as he looks a very exciting colt and looks as if he'll enjoy going around Leopardstown. It's a race in which I've done well previously and hopefully can do so again."

Eminent stepped up from winning a maiden on debut to land the Craven Stakes in April and ran creditable races in defeat in both the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket – won by Churchill – and Derby.

He finished sixth in the Guineas and fourth in the Derby – in which another likely rival this Saturday, Cliffs Of Moher, was second – both times ridden by Jim Crowley. He then finished fifth in the Eclipse when partnered by Silvestre de Sousa.

Eminent's inclusion will be a boost for Saturday's highlight and will also aid ante-post turnover.

William Hill cut Eminent to 6-1 (from 10), and then again to 5-1, and spokesman Rupert Adams said: “The betting for the Irish Champion has gone through the roof since Eminent was confirmed –it now looks like a very compelling field."

Eighteen remain after the forfeit stage for Sunday's Comer Group International Irish St Leger. They are headed by Order Of St George and Big Orange, who may be joined by the Queen's Dartmouth, beaten a nose in the Lonsdale Cup at York last time.

Dual Guineas heroine Winter, who has won four Group 1s this year, will contest either the Irish Champion or Coolmore-backed Matron Stakes, also on Saturday and for which O'Brien also has Roly Poly and Rhododendron in contention.

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