Why Delacroix might not have it all his own way in stellar Irish Champion Stakes

One of the most intriguing facets of the 2025 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes is the chance of a home victory for a trainer other than Aidan O'Brien, which has not happened since Sea The Stars triumphed for John Oxx in 2009. 

Last year O'Brien's four-strong team made up the entire Irish defence. His attempt to win the race for a sixth consecutive year fell short, with the 2023 winner Auguste Rodin losing out to the William Haggas-trained Economics. Others take up the challenge this time. 

Zahrann, a progressive three-year-old from the Johnny Murtagh stable, is joined by the John Murphy-trained White Birch, conqueror of Auguste Rodin in last year’s Tattersalls Gold Cup, and Jessica Harrington’s Hotazhell, a narrow winner of the Futurity Trophy last October.

Hotazhell has failed to win this season. In contrast, his immediate Doncaster victim Delacroix has earned his place as Ballydoyle's standard bearer. Winner of two key trials over course and distance in the spring, he started favourite for the Derby as a consequence. Failure on the big day was soon relegated to history when he mastered Ombudsman in a thrilling battle in the Eclipse. A restored reputation has not been seriously tarnished by a reversal of that form in the Juddmonte International. 

Delacroix already has strong course-and-distance form courtesy of his emphatic Derby trial victory in MayCredit: Caroline Norris (racngpost.com/photos)

The last four winners of the race have come from the Classic generation, but there have been plenty of older winners over the years. However, the Owen Burrows-trained Anmaat will be unique if successful at the age of seven, a year older than Swain in 1998. Last year's Champion Stakes hero has strong claims based on his second to Ombudsman in the Prince of Wales's Stakes, in which his contemporary Royal Champion finished towards the back.

Dogged by training issues after a brilliant start to his 2024 campaign, White Birch got within a neck of Los Angeles on his return in the Mooresbridge Stakes at the Curragh in May. He failed to get the run of the race in his repeat bid in the Tattersalls Gold Cup and a reversal of form with runner-up Anmaat is not out of the question.

The Japanese-trained Shin Emperor is the only four-year-old in the field and the only survivor from last year's race, in which he stayed on into third after a troubled passage. With another year under his belt, he could be a more potent threat if getting a clear run this time.

Zahrann is the dark horse of the race. Winner of the Listed King George V Cup here in early June, he enhanced his reputation with a fine second placing behind the unbeaten Amiloc in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot and proved his effectiveness back at ten furlongs in winning last month's Royal Whip at the Curragh.

With his 300-1 stablemate Tangapour finishing second, and favourite Los Angeles failing to deliver, the bare form has to be treated with caution. On the positive side, he has the appearance of a rapidly improving colt, matching the pedigree profile of many of the Aga Khan-bred horses familiar to Murtagh from his riding days. He looks destined to win a big pot, and this could be the day.
Analysis by Alan Sweetman

Japanese raider Shin Emperor back for more

Yoshito Yahagi has elected to send Shin Emperor on the long journey from Japan for another crack at a slice of history in the Irish Champion Stakes after he finished on the heels of Economics and Auguste Rodin last year – and jockey Ryusei Sakai believes he's better equipped for the assignment this time.

The Siyouni colt was an intriguing contender in last year's race having finished third in the Japanese Derby, but he didn't get the rub of the green having been caught in a pocket approaching the two-furlong pole and getting squeezed inside the final furlong before finishing to good effect.

Such was the promise of his first run in Europe, he went off a well-fancied 10-1 shot to emulate his brother Sottsass by landing the Arc, but he wasn't in the same form, finishing 12th of 16.

Since then, he has landed the Neom Turf Cup at Riyadh before fading into seventh in the Dubai Sheema Classic in April. Sakai has been getting his eye in since arriving in Ireland, taking two rides at Cork and one at Clonmel during the week, faring best on Eichan San, who finished fourth at Cork.

Shin Emperor powers to victory in the Neom Turf CupCredit: Grossick Racing Photography (racngpost.com/photos)

“He's a more mature and stronger horse now than last year, more experienced too," said the 28-year-old rider. "He looks great, very healthy and seems to have settled well into his new environment on the Curragh. 

“I learned a lot from the race at Leopardstown last year and I hope that experience can help us in the big race. He’s a straightforward horse. He led and won in Saudi Arabia this year, or you can wait with him, like we did here a year ago, so I think we'll have options.”

'We believe he's a Group 1 horse' - Murtagh on Zahrann

The Johnny Murtagh-trained Zahrann is the only runner not to have contested a Group 1 yet. This is a stern examination, but connections believe they are dealing with a talent capable of making a big splash.

Having announced himself as a colt of considerable potential when bolting up in the King George V Cup at the track in June, he finished with a rattle to get within three-quarters of a length of Amiloc at Royal Ascot.

He showcased his progressive profile again with an impressive victory in the Group 3 Royal Whip Stakes at the Curragh last time, a race which Luxembourg used as a stepping stone to his victory in this race in 2022. 

Zahrann continued his impressive progress with victory in a Curragh Group 3 last monthCredit: Patrick McCann

Zahrann is a big ride for Ben Coen, one of the most consistent jockeys in Ireland and who landed his sole Group 1 success this weekend four years ago, when partnering the Murtagh-trained Sonnyboyliston to Irish St Leger glory. 

"Everything has gone well with him, the preparation has gone perfectly," said Murtagh, who won this race as a jockey on Timarida in 1996. "He hasn’t run on this ground but I don’t think he'll mind it. I'm really looking forward to the race. We believe he's a Group 1 horse, but we'll find out."

What they say

Angus Gold, racing manager to Shadwell, owners of Anmaat 
On his best form he's got to have a good chance. He's shown again and again he belongs at this level, so hopefully he can give another good account of himself. Both his runs this season have been top-class. He ran a beautiful race in Ireland. He came to win, and to my eyes blew up; Owen [Burrows] couldn't get him on the grass before it and we knew he'd come on for that. At Ascot he did everything right, he was just beaten by a better horse on the day. He's shown his ability is still there, and his enthusiasm is fantastic. He's very well and Owen seems very happy with him. We've been waiting for the rain, and it's been frustrating, but hopefully the ground will be fine.

Karl Burke, trainer of Royal Champion
The ground would be a question mark for him. He's a seven-year-old gelding rated 120, so there aren't many options for him. He'll probably take his chance, but on all known form he's better on top-of-the-ground.

George Murphy, assistant to John Murphy, trainer of White Birch
He's in super form. We had hoped to run in the Royal Whip but the ground went against him. He won the Ballysax and ran well in another Group 3 here, so the track should be fine. We think we have him straight and he’s done plenty of work. You'd have preferred to have a prep run, but we didn’t want to run him on ground with firm in the description.
Reporting by Conor Fennelly

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