Anmaat team eager to take Irish Champion Stakes chance

Anmaat is being readied for the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday week, with trainer Owen Burrows “desperate” to run his stable star for the first time since Royal Ascot.

A shock 40-1 winner of last season’s Qipco Champion Stakes, the seven-year-old has made it to the track only twice this term, filling the runner-up spot in both the Tattersalls Gold Cup in May and the Prince of Wales’s Stakes the following month.

Having since sidestepped the Coral-Eclipse and the Juddmonte International due to unsuitable ground, connections are hoping for some ease underfoot in Ireland to allow Anmaat to return to the fray.

Angus Gold, racing manager for owners Shadwell, said: “Owen is desperate to run him, touch wood he’s been pleased with the horse and we need to get him out really.

“You just can’t take a chance – he’s our best horse and we can’t afford to do the wrong thing by him with the autumn to come.

“They’ve had plenty of rain in Ireland recently, so I’m expecting he will be there, all being well.

“He’s shown already this year that he retains all his enthusiasm and ability, so hopefully we get him to Leopardstown in one piece.”

Anmaat is a general 7-1 shot for the Irish Champion Stakes, with Delacroix a 4-5 favourite with some firms following the news on Wednesday that Ombudsman will not run next week.