Ryan McElligott

6.45 QIPCO IRISH

CHAMPION STAKES

(GROUP 1) 1M 2F

Decorated Knight: Has already enjoyed a fine season with Group 1 wins in Meydan and the Tattersalls Gold Cup to go with a second to Highland Reel in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot. He has come up short in the Eclipse and Juddmonte on his last two starts though and he must return to his peak to be involved here.

Moonlight Magic: Very smart sort at his best and acquitted himself well when beaten 6l into sixth by Almanzor in last year’s stellar edition of this race. He has often reserved his best for this track, as evidenced by a game defeat of Deauville in the Group 3 Meld Stakes here in July, and, of those at bigger prices, he is one that could outrun his odds.

Poet’s Word: Lightly raced and progressive four-year-old who began his season with a handicap win off a mark of 104 before losing out by just a neck to Deauville in a Ches Jter Group 3 in May. He was a ready winner of a 1m4f Group 3 at Goodwood last month, which suggested that he could develop into a force at this level, and he warrants due respect even though this is his first time outside of Group 3 company.

Success Days: Truly admirable sort who achieved his biggest success to date when edging out Mondialiste in typically determined style in a 1m2f Group 2 at York in July. On his favoured slow ground he has the capacity to get involved at this level but possibly the ground mightn’t be slow enough for him to be at his best today.

The Grey Gatsby: Famously edged out Australia in this race in 2014 but, even though he has run some fine races since then, he is now three years without a win. His three runs this season would indicate he is struggling to find his best form and others boast more obvious credentials.

Zhukova: High-class filly who won the 1m4f Group 3 on this card last year and made the breakthrough at the highest level when bolting up in a Grade 1 in New York in May. On her only start since then she was a respectable fourth in the Pretty Polly Stakes and she should be able to better that form, but this assignment demands a career best.

Churchill: Ended last season as the dominant juvenile colt in Europe and got his three-year-old season off to the best possible start by completing the English-Irish 2000 Guineas double. He clearly wasn’t at his best when beaten at Ascot and he then returned from two months off to finish an honourable 2l second to Ulysses in the Juddmonte at York. That effort indicated that this trip was no problem and, with an improved effort expected here, he is the one to beat.

Cliffs Of Moher: Emerged as one of this season’s best middle distance three-year-olds when losing out by just ¾l to Wings Of Eagles in the Derby. In two subsequent runs over 1m2f he has performed respectably to take fourth behind Ulysses in the Eclipse and the Juddmonte and it is interesting that he is given another chance at this trip in top company.

Eminent: Has progressed into a high-class colt this season with the pick of his efforts a Craven Stakes triumph and an utterly dominant Group 2 victory from the front in France last month. His other runs leave him with something to find against both Churchill and Cliffs Of Moher but he was very impressive last time and he is among the foremost contenders.

Taj Mahal: Has just a Dundalk nursery success to his name but has posted some very good runs in defeat, such as when finishing a close up fourth in the Prix du Jockey Club and when taking second in the Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes last month. Even so, his best form does leave him with plenty to do in a race of this stature.

THE VERDICT

Churchill’s first try at this trip yielded a good second in the Juddmonte at York. He has the potential to do better at this distance and he will take beating.

Eminent was very impressive in France last time but other lines of form leave him with work to do and possibly Cliffs Of Moher might be the one to fill the runner-up spot. Of the others, a big run from Moonlight Magic wouldn’t come as any surprise.