Big guns ready to contest Champion Stakes

The contenders are primed ahead of tomorrow's  Baileys Irish Champion Stakes with the Michael Jarvis-trained Rakti already at…

The contenders are primed ahead of tomorrow's  Baileys Irish Champion Stakes with the Michael Jarvis-trained Rakti already at the scene of what has already been billed as the `race of the season'.

A runaway winner of the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot, the five-year-old will be bidding to put a disappointing effort behind  him when only eighth on soft ground in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes.

"He has come through his training very satisfactorily and we are happy with his condition," Jarvis said today.

Rakti, who travelled to Leopardstown yesterday, will be having his first run since June in the 10-furlong Group One contest, after swerving the Juddmonte International due to rain-softened ground.

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"He has been off for a while, but that doesn't really bother us," continued the master of Kremlin House stables. "I believe that there is some rain about today and tomorrow, but good ground is fine for him - we just wouldn't want it to go soft.

"If it did, I will be there and will consult with the owner (Gary Tanaka) and do what we think is best for the horse.

"He has won three Group One's over 10 furlongs, so you would have to say that he is a specialist at the distance, and I would prefer to take on Doyen over 10 furlongs than I would 12."

In addition to Godolphin's King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes winner, Rakti faces a strong home challenge, headed by Dermot Weld's Irish Derby winner Grey Swallow.

The son of Dayalmi was placed fourth and third in the English and Irish Guineas respectively, before relishing the step up to a mile and a half when scoring at the Curragh in June.

"I'm happy with this his progress and hopefully he'll run a big race," said Weld. "He will appreciate the nice ground."

Grey Swallow finished half a length behind Azamour in the Irish 2000 Guineas before John Oxx's charge saw off some smart rivals in the St James's Palace Stakes at the Royal meeting.

The Aga Khan-owned colt has not raced since that win and, like Rakti, swerved the Juddmonte International and will be trying a distance beyond a mile for the first time.

"It looks a very tough race, but we're looking for a good run and the ground should be no problem for him," commented his big-race jockey Mick Kinane.

Powerscourt will represent Ballydoyle in the Champion Stakes after being disqualified from the Arlington Million, despite passing the post first.

The four-year-old has been campaigned at the highest level all season and chased home Rakti in the Prince of Wales's Stakes.

Aidan O'Brien's charge was beaten two lengths on that occasion and jockey Jamie Spencer is hopeful of a bold show from last year's Great Voltigeur winner.

"It's a very competitive race but Powerscourt is in very good form," he said. "If he performs to his best he should be there or thereabouts."

In the absence of Rakti and Azamour at York, Norse Dancer again showed that he is a horse of the highest calibre after being caught in the dying strides of the International by Sulamani.

"He has come back from York well and ran a blinder there, but when doesn't he?" said his trainer David Elsworth.

"If you look at his form and give him marks on a points system for all the horses that he has finished in front of, you will find that he comes out very favourably."

The four-year-old landed the Group Two Sovereign Stakes earlier last month, having previously contested four Group Ones races on the bounce.

A total of eight horses will go to post for tomorrow's race, won 12 months ago by High Chaparral, with Godolphin's Millstreet and Mick Channon's Imperial Dancer completing the field.