Irish Champion Stakes news: Just six runners will line up in tomorrow's Baileys Irish Champion Stakes and both the Ouija Board and Alexander Goldrun camps will be hoping that that is a good omen for success in Leopardstown's Group One highlight.
It's a decade since Timarida emerged best from a field of six runners to be the last filly or mare to win the Champion Stakes and tomorrow's renewal will equal the smallest ever field for the big race alongside 1996 and 1979.
Ouija Board and Alexander Goldrun served up a Nassau Stakes thriller at Goodwood early last month and anticipation of a fascinating repeat clash was confirmed when Alexander Goldrun was declared for the Champion rather than taking up an entry in the Coolmore Fusaichi Pegasus Matron Stakes on the same card.
Despite the lack of runners, however, Ouija Board's position at the head of the ante-post betting is far from secure with Aidan O'Brien's Irish Derby winner, Dylan Thomas, as short as 2 to 1 after being confirmed a runner at yesterday's final declaration stage.
As expected, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and King George winner Hurricane Run was switched in the morning from the Champion Stakes to Longchamp's traditional Arc trial, the Prix Foy, on Sunday.
That allows Kieren Fallon to reunite with Dylan Thomas, who was ridden by Michael Kinane when disappointing in the Juddmonte International at York, and that in turn resulted in a swift reduction of his odds with some firms.
Dylan Thomas was cut by William Hill whose spokesman Tony Kenny said: "Just before the news about Hurricane Run, we saw lots of interest in Dylan Thomas and he is by far our biggest loser."
Aidan O'Brien has also declared Ace for the Champion Stakes, with Kinane on board, and the champion trainer will be represented by four horses in tomorrow's Ladbrokes St Leger at York as he tries to repeat last year's Group One double with Oratorio and Scorpion.
Seamus Heffernan had already been chalked in for the mount on Tusculum in the world's oldest classic but other jockey arrangements were firmed up yesterday with Colm O'Donoghue riding Fire And Rain, Kevin Darley on Mountain and Darryll Holland booked for Puerto Rico who had been a doubtful starter earlier in the week.
"I have a good record in the Leger. I was placed on Highest and Phoenix Reach and I was third on Tycoon for Aidan in 2004," said Holland. "Puerto Rico ran a good trial in the Voltigeur, which is an ideal stepping stone to the Leger, and he is going to improve for that run. From what I've seen, the extra two furlongs should suit and Aidan is pleased with him. Aidan knows what it takes to win the Leger," he added.
The mover in the Leger betting was Fire And Rain, sixth to Youmzain in the Voltigeur, who was slashed into 8 to 1 from 14's by Cashmans.
O'Brien will also be represented in the Group Two Champagne Stakes at York tomorrow where the Futurity runner-up, Eagle Mountain, will take on seven opponents headed by the Michael Jarvis-trained Prince Forever.
The Ballydoyle trainer has left open the option of running his Newbury Listed winner Fermion in Sunday's Group One Prix Vermeille at Longchamp.
One definite O'Brien filly taking her chance in a Group One will be Race For The Stars who is one of nine runners in the Matron tomorrow although a five-strong British challenge will be hard for the home team to cope with.
The cross-channel team include the Cheveley Park Stud Group 1 winning duo of Nannina and Peeress as well as the Coronation runner up Flashy Wings.
