Irish Champion Stakes: Luxembourg flies home flag against Vadeni and Mishriff

Saturday: 3.45 Leopardstown
Irish Champion Stakes (Group 1) | 1m2f | 3yo+ | RTE2/RTV

After scoring with the exceptional Almanzor in 2016, Jean-Claude Rouget and Christophe Soumillon know exactly what it takes to win Ireland's premier Flat prize.

History could be repeated in this year's Irish Champion Stakes as the pair team up with French star Vadeni, who won the Coral-Eclipse at when last seen.

Rouget has been surprised by the three-year-old's physical development in the ten weeks since Sandown, and has hinted a much stronger version of the Churchill colt could be on display at Leopardstown.

Soumillon has already labelled the runaway Prix du Jockey Club scorer a "monster", "superstar" and "machine" in recent weeks.

Rouget said: "He’ll have to adapt to however the race unfolds. There shouldn’t be any more rain on Saturday so I expect the ground to be good to soft, which is fine. It’s difficult to have a horse in top form for both York and the Irish Champion and the calendar dictates this is the race to go for."

'We're very happy with Luxembourg' – O'Brien readies three-pronged attack

Nobody has farmed the Irish Champion Stakes like Aidan O'Brien in the race's rich history, and the legendary trainer is responsible for 43 per cent of the field this time as he bids for a record-extending 11th success.

Luxembourg is the clear captain of this year's Ballydoyle challenge. O'Brien predicted there would be "20 to 30 per cent" improvement to come from the star three-year-old in the aftermath of his winning return from injury in the Royal Whip Stakes.

"Everything has gone well with Luxembourg since his last start at the Curragh," said O'Brien, who is chasing a fourth consecutive Irish Champion Stakes win.

"He had a good run in the 2,000 Guineas before he had his break, and we were delighted with his first start back. We always thought he was going to be a middle-distance horse this year. We're happy with him."

On ground conditions for the Camelot colt, O'Brien said: "He's a good-moving horse and I think nice ground would suit everybody."

A slow start proved detrimental to the chances of this year's Hardwicke Stakes winner Broome when a running-on fourth in a Saratoga Grade 1 two weeks ago.

The six-year-old's best form is over further, but he does handle an ease in the ground and boasts form figures of 211 at this track.

"Broome came home well on his last start at Saratoga," said O'Brien. "He just missed the break and got back a little bit around a tight track, but we were happy with how he saw his race out. He hasn't done much since he came back but seems to be in good form."

Broome: dominant winner of the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal AscotCredit: Edward Whitaker

Impressive Derby Trial winner Stone Age returns to the scene of his career-best performance after finishing third and fifth in New York Grade 1s on his last two outings.

O'Brien said: "Maybe it didn't really suit him in America, he just got caught a little short in both races. Getting back to this track should hopefully suit him. He's in good form and has had a little bit of time since his last run [five weeks ago]."

Gosden pleased with Mishriff but feels Luxembourg 'could be the big improver'

Joint-trainer John Gosden believes Luxembourg has the potential to prove a major threat to his international star Mishriff if ground conditions remain on the easy side, as the Clarehaven camp bid for a fifth Irish Champion triumph.

One of the most versatile performers on the planet, the ambitiously campaigned five-year-old has a score to settle with Vadeni after being beaten just a neck in the Eclipse when being unlucky in running.

Gosden said: "His preparation has gone very well but we'll see how much more rain they get. He can handle cut but we wouldn't want to see it going bottomless. He could run a big race but we don't want it heavy.

"Luxembourg is the interesting one because if he comes back to what he showed at Doncaster as a two-year-old and his Guineas run he's the one to look at, he could be the big improver. Bred as he is, he'll probably relish the ground."

Chappet: 'We're very confident Onesto will run well'

Connections of impressive Grand Prix de Paris scorer Onesto are hoping conditions do not turn testing for their exciting three-year-old, who completes a strong French challenge.

The ground was described as soft when the Frankel colt finished six and three-quarters of a length behind Vadeni in the Prix du Jockey Club, but Onesto impressed when getting back on good to soft at Longchamp when last seen in mid-July.

Onesto: impressive when last seen landing the Grand Prix de ParisCredit: Sam Hendry

Trainer Fabrice Chappet said: "He's in very good form and we're going over there very confident that he will run well. Of course it won't be easy. They usually go a good pace which will suit him. Good to soft ground wouldn't be a problem, but if it gets softer than that then he would have a question to answer."

Alenquer to relish ease in ground

The arrival of substantial rainfall in the Dublin area over the past week will have come as music to the ears of Alenquer's connections, as the William Haggas-trained contender attempts to claim another of Ireland's top middle-distance prizes this season.

A ready winner on heavy ground in last year's King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, the high-class four-year-old showed an excellent attitude to land the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh in May.

Tom Marquand gives the thumbs up after Alenquer delivers in the Tattersalls Gold CupCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Armando Duarte, racing manager to owners MM Stables, said: "They've had rain, which I think will suit him but it may suit others too. He's in great shape and is going there a relatively fresh horse as he missed the Juddmonte International with a dirty scope.

"He wasn't suited to making the running in the Eclipse before that and we expect him to run a big race."

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