RACING:RIP VAN WINKLE rather than Fame And Glory is set to lead Aidan O'Brien's challenge on Saturday's Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.
The champion trainer is pursuing a record sixth victory in the €750,000 highlight but it appears plans to allow Fame And Glory the chance to improve on last year’s second to Sea The Stars have been shelved in favour of giving Rip Van Winkle the chance to complete a quick Group One double.
It is just over a fortnight since Rip Van Winkle edged out Twice Over in a memorable finish to York’s Juddmonte International and the scene is now set for a mouth-watering repeat clash this weekend.
O’Brien yesterday outlined provisional plans ahead of today’s final declaration stage and Rip Van Winkle will be joined in the Champion by the Irish Derby winner Cape Blanco as well as the high-class Beethoven.
“Nothing is set in stone and I would stress that nothing will be decided until tomorrow.
“But at the moment it looks like Cape Blanco, Beethoven and either Fame And Glory or Rip Van Winkle will run.
“The two of them probably won’t run and it is possible, but not definite, that Rip will run instead of Fame And Glory,” he said.
“It is possible Fame And Glory could go instead in the Prix Foy the following weekend. But a final decision won’t be made until the morning,” he added.
Saturday looks like being a busy Group One afternoon for the Ballydoyle trainer as it was described as “very possible” that Starspangledbanner will appear in Haydock’s Betfred Sprint Cup over six furlongs.
“We’re leaving it late as it is only a short time since he ran at York,” O’Brien reported.
Sea The Stars completed the Juddmonte-Irish Champion Stakes double last year during his record-breaking season and O’Brien’s Giant’s Causeway did the same when successful at Leopardstown 10 years ago.
The Twice Over team, however, are of the opinion that the shorter straight at the Leopardstown track could play to their strengths rather than at York where Rip Van Winkle appeared to need much of the half mile to get organised and running.
“It’s a little bit shorter race at Leopardstown and the straight isn’t as long as York so hopefully that’s where we might find an advantage,” said Teddy Grimpthorpe, the Juddmonte Farms spokesman, yesterday.
“Last year he had two minor prep races for the Champion at Newmarket so Henry (Cecil) said there would be too much of a gap between races.
“As he is in such good form he would like to take the horse to Leopardstown,” he added.
Watering was continuing yesterday and the current weather forecast indicates there will be no rain at the Co Dublin course before race time on Saturday. The going was officially “good to firm” yesterday.
This looks like ruling out the Clive Cox-trained Poet while fast ground may also place a doubt over Juddmonte’s other entry, Dermot Weld’s Famous Name, who could wait 24 hours instead for the Prix du Moulin at Longchamp if not appearing in Ireland this weekend.
“If it got too firm we would look at it,” admitted Grimthorpe.
“But he loves Leopardstown. Ten furlongs is probably the limit of his stamina but he certainly deserves a crack at this competitive race.”
