Delacroix takes on seven in his Irish Champion Stakes quest

Delacroix will face seven rivals as he attempts to add the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown to the Eclipse he won earlier in the season.

Having disappointed in the Derby, Aidan O’Brien’s colt bounced back at Sandown, beating the year older Ombudsman with a thrilling late run.

O’Brien is happy to put a line through his effort at York in the Juddmonte International when second to Ombudsman due to how the race was run and with John and Thady Gosden opting against the race with their charge, Delacroix is a hot favourite.

Owen Burrows’ stalwart Anmaat will have his first run since Royal Ascot, with conditions turning in his favour as the ground is currently described as soft, yielding to soft in places.

Last season’s Champion Stakes winner at Ascot has only run twice this year due to the dry summer but has shown he retains all his ability, finishing second both times.

Shin Emperor is back for another go for trainer Yoshito Yahagi having finished a close third to Economics 12 months ago.

Since that effort he has also finished second in the Japan Cup and in Saudi Arabia but he has not run since disappointing in Dubai in early April.

White Birch is another with solid Group One form while Karl Burke’s Royal Champion steps back up to the highest level having comfortably seen off Almaqam at York.

Johnny Murtagh’s Zahrann steps up in grade, Jessica Harrington’s Hotazhell gets to race with cut in the ground for the first time since his Futurity Trophy win last year, while O’Brien also runs Mount Kilimanjaro.

The other Group One on the card is the Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes in which Burke’s Fallen Angel aims to go one better than last year.

She beat O’Brien’s January in the Prix Rothschild last time and the Ballydoyle runner reopposes, with first-time cheekpieces added this time.

Coronation Stakes winner Cercene and the improving Vera’s Secret are part of a field of 11.