Vadeni on the drift as punters plump for Luxembourg in Irish Champion Stakes

Punters believe Aidan O'Brien can capture an 11th Irish Champion Stakes with Luxembourg, who has been shortened to 7-2 (from 4) for Saturday's Group 1 feature.

The three-year-old has been the subject of support at Leopardstown as he steps back into Group 1 company for the first time since chasing home Coroebus in the 2,000 Guineas in May. He scored by a neck in his preparation for this.

The favourite Vadeni, winner of the French Derby and Eclipse, has been a notable drifter and is now available at 11-8 (from 11-10). His trainer Jean-Claude Rouget was successful in the race with Almanzor in 2016.

Meanwhile, Homeless Songs is strengthening at the top of the market for the Coolmore-sponsored Matron Stakes. The dazzling Irish 1,000 Guineas winner is now odds-on with some firms having been 5-4 overnight. Saffron Beach price is unchanged at 2-1.

The eight-race fixture, which is the first of the two-day Irish Champions Weekend, is the only meeting in Britain and Ireland on Saturday.

All meetings in Britain were cancelled following the death of the Queen but the St Leger and various other notable races will be held on Sunday at Doncaster.

Soft ground at Leopardstown

The ground at Leopardstown remains soft following 2mm of rain overnight, while conditions at the Curragh for tomorrow are yielding to soft on the straight course and yielding, good to yielding in places on the round track.

Lorcan Wyer said in an update posted on Twitter from the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board: "We had 2mm of rain on Friday added to the 16mm on Thursday, that makes a total of 118mm of rain in the last seven days.

"The going is soft and you could argue that aspects of it are a little better but overall we feel the track will ride soft today.

"The forecast is good for today, with a dry and sunny day and temperatures between 18C and 21C."

Market movers

2.40 Serious Challenge 5-1 (from 6-1)
3.10 Beamish 9-2 (from 11-2)
3.45 Luxembourg 7-2 (from 4-1)
4.55 Homeless Songs 10-11 (from 5-4)

Non-runners

4.55 Agartha, Panama Red
5.30 Yashin

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