ITV unlikely to screen Irish Champion Stakes despite earlier start time

Running next week's Qipco Irish Champion Stakes earlier than scheduled is unlikely to mean the Leopardstown highlight is screened on ITV.

Officials at the course on Monday revealed day one of Longines Irish Champions Weekend will now start at 1.55, rather than 3.05. The Irish Champion Stakes, due to be staged at 6.35, will now take place at 4.15 – 15 minutes after ITV coverage on its main channel ends.

The door is not fully closed on broadcasting the prestigious Group 1, but a statement from the network on Tuesday read: "ITV is scheduled to come off air at 4pm that day and there are currently no plans to extend the show."

Ryan Moore runs across the Leopardstown track after travelling from Doncaster after riding Kew Gardens to win the St Leger last yearCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Leopardstown made the switch primarily to avoid a clash with the replay of the All-Ireland football final between Kerry and Dublin, although the participation of Japanese darling Deirdre means the earlier start will allow fans in the Far East to watch her at a more suitable time – something track supremo Pat Keogh described as "a substantial breakthrough for Irish racing".

ITV's cameras will be at Doncaster on Saturday week for the William Hill St Leger and are committed to showing the first three days of the Yorkshire venue's best fixture on its principal channel.

The sight of riders sprinting away from Doncaster to get a helicopter to Leopardstown and compete at both meetings has at times been an unsatisfactory one, but with just 40 minutes between the St Leger and Irish Champion such an instance should not occur.

Get exclusive insight from the track and live tipping with Raceday Live - our up-to-the-minute service on racingpost.com and the Racing Post mobile app