Warrior does battle with old foe Lion for fifth time this season

6.35 Leopardstown
Qipco Irish Champion Stakes (Group 1) | 1m2f (outertrack) | 3yo+ | RTE2/ATR

A season that started so impressively with victory in the Qipco 2,000 Guineas has left Saxon Warrior with plenty to prove as he clashes once more with Roaring Lion in the Leopardstown showpiece.

Saxon Warrior and Roaring Lion will be meeting for the fourth time this year and, aside from the Guineas, the Aidan O'Brien-trained colt has finished behind the British raider in the Investec Derby, the Coral-Eclipse and the Juddmonte International.

O'Brien has landed the Irish Champion Stakes on seven occasions and So You Think, his most recent winner in 2011, was the last Irish-trained success.

Speaking on Friday, O'Brien said: "Saxon Warrior was a sick horse after the Eclipse and was just ready to start back when he went to York. We've been happy with him since the Juddmonte International and we think he has come forward well. He's in good form."

Stablemates joining Ryan Moore's mount in the line-up are Rhododendron, a Group 1 winner at two, three and four, Deauville and Athena, both of whom have achieved top-level success in the US.

"Rhododendron was going very well at Deauville last time when she was struck into, stumbled and almost fell turning into the straight. We're happy with her and hoping for a good run," O'Brien said.

"Deauville is a solid horse who always runs his race and Athena is in good shape. She's wearing a hood to help her relax and we're very happy with her."

Verbal Dexterity, winner of the Group 1 National Stakes a year ago, represents Jim Bolger. He finished fourth in the Royal Whip Stakes at the Curragh last month on his only start this season.

Saxon Warrior

ProsThe Ballydoyle team has recovered well from a bug and every chance this dual Group 1 winner can get the better of Roaring Lion this time

ConsWill need to have come on well from York and remains to be seen whether 1m2f is his optimum trip

Will the Lion roar again?

The year started with the Lion making barely a timid yelp, let alone a roar. Those days have been consigned firmly to the past, with Roaring Lion heading into his latest Group 1 assignment as clear favourite and off the back of a magnificent triumph.

A near ten-length Craven Stakes defeat behind Masar hardly signalled that Roaring Lion would emerge as one of the stars of the season. However, a true star he has become – and so has his jockey.

For his principal employer, Qatar Racing, Oisin Murphy has won the Coral-Eclipse and Juddmonte International aboard Roaring Lion, plus the Sussex Stakes on Lightning Spear, while he added to his top-flight haul last Saturday when landing the 32Red Sprint Cup with The Tin Man.

He tackles the Irish Champion Stakes – sponsored by Qatar Racing's sister company Qipco – in sensational form and thrilled to be associated with the John Gosden-trained colt who thrashed King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Poet's Word by three and a quarter lengths at York, where Roaring Lion's old rival Saxon Warrior was soundly beaten in fourth.

"I'm excited and can't wait to get on him," said Murphy.

"He really took off when I pressed the button at York and he concentrated on the job. He was also much further in front of Saxon Warrior than he had been at Sandown. I thought he beat a world-class field and won a race that looked very strong on paper."

Murphy added: "All Group 1 races are tactical, as they tend not to get big fields. Ballydoyle have four runners in the race, Study Of Man is no slouch and Addeybb ran to a Racing Post Rating of 121 earlier in the year, so if he gets his conditions he could have a big say.

"I'll have a good think about it and speak to John in the morning but this is definitely a race that is going to take some winning."

ProsThe best horse in the race, now seemingly free of quirks and in sizzling form

ConsHaving his seventh run of the season in what could be a tactical race featuring four Aidan O'Brien-trained horses

Bary hoping for super Man