Racing: Cape Blanco made all the running to give Aidan O'Brien a sixth success in the Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown. Seamie Heffernan simply ran his rivals into the ground over the mile and a quarter to easily beat his stablemate Rip Van Winkle.
Stamina was not an issue for the Irish Derby winner who set a scorching pace. He was soon several lengths clear of Sea Lord with Beethoven third and the opposition never really got a look in.
Heffernan kicked on again as they turned into the straight and it was clear the 6-1 shot was not for stopping.
He won by an impressive five and a half lengths from Rip Van Winkle, who got up in the shadow of the post to grab second place from Twice Over in a bunch finish for the minor honours.
"He's a very good horse and was unbeaten as a two-year-old, we always thought 10 furlongs on nice ground would be his best and that's what he had," O'Brien said of the winner. "He's a big, strong, powerful horse with loads of speed and class. He's progressing and maturing with every week that goes by.
"He does what he's asked at home but has a very laid-back attitude.
"Rip ran a great race and Johnny (Murtagh) felt the ground had gone a bit slow for him. Rip is a miler that gets 10 furlongs, while Cape Blanco is a 10-furlong horse that gets a mile and a half."
Asked about future plans, he added: "We're open to everything, there're a lot of options.
"Rip won't mind going back to a mile, Cape Blanco could go a mile and a half or stay at 10 furlongs."
Cecil said of Twice Over, narrowly beaten by Rip Van Winkle in the Juddmonte International: "He didn't seem to quite pick up as we expected him to, but he wouldn't have beaten the winner.
"Maybe he is better on faster ground, he had a hard race at York but I thought he was very well and thought he had great chance, but we wouldn't have beaten the winner today.
"We'll see how he is, the Champion Stakes at Newmarket is still on the agenda and maybe the Dubai World Cup."
Sky Bet cut Cape Blanco to 8s (from 25s) for the Arc while William Hill introduced him at 10-1 for the Breeders' Cup Turf.