Irish Champion Stakes: Auguste Rodin joins King Of Steel as joint favourite

Aidan O’Brien’s dual Derby winner Auguste Rodin was below par in the King George at Ascot last time out but that is not putting off the punters.

O’Brien also runs 10/1 chance Luxembourg, who bids to retain his crown after getting the better of French-trained duo Onesto and Vadeni in the showpiece event of the Irish Champions Festival last season.

His last two runs have come at Ascot, as he finished second to subsequent Juddmonte International hero Mostahdaf in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes before placing fourth in the King George.

“We’re very happy with Luxembourg, everything has gone very well,” said O’Brien. “The King George is a tough race and he was on the pace.

“Really, we don’t know what happened to Auguste in the King George. He was drawn very wide and trapped very wide and he came off the bridle a lot earlier than Ryan (Moore) would have thought.

“His first impulse was to protect the horse and he was very surprised by what happened. Before he had to ask too much, he just pulled him up and that’s the reality of the situation.

“It’s probably a blessing in disguise, as if he came off the bridle at a later stage, he was probably going to get a very tough race. For a baby three-year-old, he was probably lucky he didn’t get into a brawl and he came home very well.”

Fabrice Chappet is confident last year’s runner-up Onesto will put up another bold show with Frankie Dettori on board and he can be backed at 11/2.

“One place better than last year will do,” quipped Chappet. “He has never run a bad race, he has been unlucky a few times, but he rarely runs a bad race. So I expect a good run one more time.

“He had a little issue in the spring, but the best races for him are coming up now anyway. He is a very versatile horse, he is a Group One winner going 2400 metres (Grand Prix de Paris) and ran a very good race in this last year going 2000 metres and also ran a good race down in trip in the Jacques le Marois.

“He definitely has more speed than a mile and a half horse and he can probably do anything from a mile to middle distances – he showed a good bit of speed last time.”

Nashwa has been trimmed to 6/1 in Coral’s Irish Champion Stakes betting odds following a pleasing workout.

Having secured her third Group One victory with a dominant performance in the Falmouth at Newmarket in mid-July, John and Thady Gosden’s filly has since finished third in the Nassau at Goodwood and second in the Juddmonte International.

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to Nashwa’s owner Imad Al Sagar, said: “We are positive, she did a nice little bit and everyone’s very happy.

“It seems the right spot to go for. She’s come out of York very well and Imad’s excited about going to Leopardstown. She’s in great shape and we’re looking forward to it.”

Alflaila is 11/2 for his first shot at Group One glory at Leopardstown after being supplemented at a cost of €75,000, and his connections are relishing the challenge.

Having won a Listed prize at Pontefract and Group Threes at York and Newmarket last season, the Owen Burrows-trained colt made a triumphant return from nine months on the sidelines when powering home to lift the Group Two York Stakes in July.

Shadwell’s racing manager Angus Gold said: “Alflaila wasn’t in the Irish Champion initially because he obviously had a little injury at the end of last year and we hadn’t seen him back on the track when the entries were made, but it now makes sense to have a go at this.

“It’s a very high-class race, as you would expect, but we’ll have a go and see what happens.”

Irish Champion Stakes odds

3/1 King Of Steel, Auguste Rodin

11/2 Onesto, Alflaila

6/1 Nashwa

15/2 Al Riffa

10/1 Luxembourg

25/1 Sprewell

100/1 Point Lonsdale

View the latest horse racing odds

All odds and market correct at date of publication