An extraordinary Irish Champion Stakes in the Fantastic Light v Galileo mould

Four up for Ger Lyons as Masen and Colin Keane take the finaleCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Welcome to the new normal, or the start of the same as it ever was era. Whichever you prefer.

Day one of Irish Champions Weekend was the stage for the biggest crowd on an Irish racecourse since the second day of February in 2020. It felt abnormal, yet the outcome of the big race turned out to be very normal indeed.

Aidan O'Brien won it for a tenth time, nothing unusual about that, but to see three of the top thoroughbreds in training accelerating into sixth gear in front of a live audience was nothing short of extraordinary. It was an Irish Champion Stakes that will live long in the memory. It was in the Fantastic Light v Galileo mould.

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Published on 11 September 2021inReports

Last updated 19:42, 11 September 2021

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