AIDAN O’Brien has praised the “immense” difference Irish Champions Weekend has made to Irish racing. The weekend, now in its fourth year, was launched in the Merrion Hotel, Dublin on Wednesday where O’Brien was speaking alongside Ryan Moore, Pat Smullen and Jim Bolger.

“The initiative has changed the world of Irish racing,” O’Brien said. “Before, the season would be just simmering down and you’d be looking at international venues for your horses. Now we have a top class event to aim for at home and horses from other countries come here.

“It has the perfect slot in the calendar. It comes just before the weather and ground change. And it comes at a time when all the horses have just sorted themselves out in each bracket. You have top-class races over all distances.”

Jim Bolger added: “The weekend is a centrepiece for European racing and it’s a great credit to Harry McCalmont and Joe Foley for coming up with the initiative.”

Leopardstown CEO Pat Keogh and his Curragh counterpart Derek McGrath also spoke. Keogh noted the need for organisers of the event and both tracks to “not be complacent and continue to improve and grow.”

Last month Keogh was confident either last year’s winner Almanzor or his stable companion Brametot, successful in the French equivalents of the 2000 Guineas and Derby, would run in the Irish Champion Stakes.

Keogh has also spoke of the desire to attract more international runners to the race in the future, with particular focus on a Japanese horse.

Connections of five-time Grade 1 winner Kitasan Black, had expressed an interest but cooled on the idea after the five-year-old disappointed on his latest start at Hanshin in June.

Aidan O’Brien indicated four-time Group 1 winner Winter, prominent in the betting for the Irish Champion Stakes, is more likely to be targeted at the Matron Stakes, where she could take on another Jean-Claude Rouget horse, Qemah. O’Brien is likely to target either Churchill or Cliffs Of Moher at the Champion Stakes.

PLANS

O’Brien’s plans for the juvenile Group 1 races at the Curragh were a little more cloudy but he indicated Clemmie and September would be strongly considered for the Moyglare Stud Stakes and The Pentagon, who impressed Ryan Moore, could be in line for the Vincent O’Brien National Stakes.

Jessica Harrington was represented by her daughter Kate who indicated a number of their horses were being aimed at Irish Champions Weekend.

She said: “Alpha Centauri is fine after Ascot and we’re looking forward to seeing her again. Brother Bear got a bit of a knock so we’re thinking a bit more time with him. Torcedor is in good form and he’ll go for the Irish St Leger.”