Irish Champion Stakes (Group 1)

Off time: 14:46 | Winning time: 2m 11.19s

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Selected odds by:

(3)

Patrick Sarsfield^t⁸⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: D P McDonogh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 112| BF| C| D

33/1

Smart and consistent performer but he's come up a little short at listed level on both starts this year and will surely prove vulnerable against this level of opposition.

Form: 1372-22

(2)

Tarnawa³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: C T Keane| T: D K Weld| OR: 122| CD

9/4

Big improver at 4, scoring at Group 1 level on her final 3 starts. Looked every bit as good as ever when hacking up in Group 3 Ballyroan on 1½m course reappearance last month.

Form: 9/1111-1

(1)

Poetic Flare²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 122| C

4/1

One of this season's best milers, winning the 2000 Guineas and St James's Palace. Runner-up in Sussex and Jacques Le Marois the last twice and he's certainly bred to effective at 1¼m.

Form: 162122

(4)

St Mark's Basilica⁷⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 127| D

5/6

Has made into a top-class colt, impressively completing four-timer in Eclipse at Sandown. Earlier won Poule d'Essai des Poulains and Prix du Jockey Club in France. Has good turn of foot. One to beat.

Form: 131-111

Forecasts

St Mark's Basilica (5/6), Tarnawa (9/4), Poetic Flare (4/1), Patrick Sarsfield (33/1)

Just the 4 runners but a belting renewal. ST MARK'S BASILICA coped very well with a small-field scenario when an impressive winner of the Eclipse and can land a fifth Group 1 success in a row. The Arc is presumably the main target for Tarnawa so it could be that the chief threat comes from leading miler Poetic Flare, whose pedigree provides plenty of hope that he'll be just as good over this trip.