5.00 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes (Group 1) 1m 2f

Almaqam: Progressed to gain his first Group 1 win in the Tattersalls Gold Cup, at the expense of Bay City Roller, before encountering unsuitably fast ground at Ascot. Back to best when beaten a head in the Juddmonte International, where he and the winner Item, appeared suited by how the race panned out.

Hotazhell: A Group 1 winner at two, Harrington’s colt ffinished fourth in this last year. Disappointed on his first two starts of the year before narrowly winning a German Group 1, with Wimbledon Hawkeye half a length back in third. Runner-up subsequently finished a head behind Diamond Necklace in the Prix Jean et Louis Romanet.

Lambourn: Dual Derby winner won a Group 2 when last tackling this trip, but appears best over a mile and a half. Likely here to ensure a strong pace for Ballydoyle’s leading hope, along with Hawk Mountain.

Wimbledon Hawkeye: Made a smart start for George Scott when finishing strongly to take third in the Grosser Dallmayr-Preis, with the runner-up subsequently solidifying the form, but Wimbledon Hawkeye himself could only win a Group 3 by a neck next time, and the favourite disappointing there didn’t help the form.

A Boy Names Susie: Last seen winning the Royal Whip Stakes by an impressive five lengths but has three lengths to make up on Constitution River based on his Eclipse second and was held by a similar margin in the Prix du Jockey Club.

Constitution River: Winner of the Prix du Jockey Club from a wide draw and followed up with a commanding performance in the Eclipse. Over-raced under a fast pace in the Juddmonte International, so it was no surprise to see him fade in the closing stages.

Hawk Mountain: Placed in two Group 1s behind Constitution River, the Group 1 Futurity Trophy winner set the pace at York after intended pacemaker broke slowly and expected to fill the same role here.

Item: Dante winner was third in the betting for the Epsom Derby but failed to make his presence felt on the soft ground. Bounced back in another York Group 2 and continued his love affair with the track when rallying gamely to win the Juddmonte International, in which he’d received a patient ride.

Conclusion

It was difficult to be confident about the strength of this year’s three-year-old colts over this trip even before York, and with the absence of Ombudsman today, I’m not sure we’ll be any wiser after this race. It makes for a murky picture now, and while it there are reasons to draw a line through Constitution River’s last run, it can’t be guaranteed to not happen again and it wouldn’t be the first time the Leopardstown straight has staged drama.

York hero Item benefitted from an ice-cool Colin Keane ride and it could be argued that if Almaqam had been delivered later, he might have prevailed. The weight-for-age penalty is 1lb less today, so I’m inclined to favour Almaqam at better value odds.