Irish Champion Stakes 2011

6.45 Leopardstown

Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes (Group 1) (Class 1)  (3YO plus)

Winner €434,500

Advice: 1 pt Snow Fairy w/o So You Think (10/11 William Hill)

Famous Name: Has proven as good as ever this season in winning 4 races with ease, but easily held by So You Think in Tattersalls Gold Cup and still cannot claim that Elusive Group 1 win after odds on defeat in Germany last time our and likely to find at least one too good.

So You Think: Australian sensation who has shown what he’s all about with Coral Eclipse success, atoning for his controversial defeat in Prince Of Wales’s Stakes beforehand; This a much less tasking race and should win well on his way to a myriad of Autumn targets.

Snow Fairy: Improved out of all recognition last season for step up to middle distances, completing Oaks double in emphatic style before valiant second to Midday in Yorkshire Oaks; didn’t stay in Ledger but completed remarkable Hong Kong double at backend of last season, beating top class fields on both occasions; Needed the run in the Eclipse badly and should come on for run in Nassau, to has to be clear second best here if back to best.

Dunboyne Express: Showed a big amount of promise as a 2yo but failed to build on easy reappearance win since and making up the numbers here.

Recital: Threatened to be Ballydoyle’s No.1 Classic contender with Group 1 win in France last November and bounced back from disappointing seasonal debut with clear but Derrinstown Stud Stakes win had him near favourite for the Derby, despite clear temperament issues; With that in mind, he was never going to handle Epsom when sixth in Derby and if break has seen him mature, interesting contender.

Roderic O’Connor: Threated to develop into top class type with Group 1 win as juvenile in France and Irish Guineas (easy lead, never really getting caught) but has failed to carry that form forward since and others preferred here.

VERDICT: Having outpointed Derby and Arc winner Workforce in the Coral Eclipse on his last start, there’s a suspicion that SO YOU THINK has an easier task today but the opportunity just to see him run should be relished. The main betting value in the race probably lies with Snow Fairy to be the best of the rest, after two creditable runs this season. Derby sixth Recital is a fascinating addition but he may well need this first run back from a break, Ballydoyle having withdrawn him from the Irish Derby.