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Horse Racing Ireland has announced earlier race times for Irish Champion Stakes day on Saturday, September 14th.
The first race on the corresponding fixture 12 months ago – the Ballylinch Stud Irish EBF Ingabelle Stakes – was run at 3.20pm, but will this year be run at 1.55pm as officials are keen to avoid a direct clash with the All-Ireland Senior Football Final replay on the same day.
LEGER CLASH
The changes are also expected to help accommodate a significant Japanese television audience, with Nassau Stakes heroine Deirdre due to line up in the Qipco Irish Champion Stakes, which is now due off at 4.15pm rather than 6.35pm – leading to an inevitable clash with the St Leger at Doncaster.
The final classic of the British season is due to be run at 3.35pm, meaning Aidan O’Brien among others could face jockey issues. The Ballydoyle trainer has regularly had his riders leave Doncaster immediately after the Leger to make it to Leopardstown in time for the Irish Champion.
The second Group 1 on the Leopardstown card – the Coolmore ‘Fastnet Rock’ Matron Stakes – moves to 5.25pm, with the concluding Irish Stallion Farms EBF ‘Sovereign Path’ Premier Handicap taking place at 6pm.
Leopardstown’s CEO Pat Keogh said: “On a fantastic day of sporting action, we will cater for those who would like to see one of the best race meetings of the year and one of the highlights of the season, as well as the All-Ireland Final replay.
“We will be bringing a big screen experience to the football replay and, as we have seen during the Dublin Racing Festival and the Six Nations, there is an incredible atmosphere watching big games on the big screens at Leopardstown.
“The news that Green Channel (dedicated racing channel in Japan) will show the Qipco Irish Champion Stakes live is fantastic news for the profile of the race and we’ve been inundated with media requests from Japan, which underlines the interest there in their brilliant racemare, Deirdre.”
Revised schedule for Leopardstown, Saturday, September 14th
1.55pm Ballylinch Stud EBF Ingabelle Stakes (Listed)
2.30pm Irish Stallions Farms EBF ‘Petingo’ Premier Handicap
3.05pm KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes (Group 2)
3.40pm Paddy Power Betting Shop [Kilternan] Stakes (Group 3)
4.15pm QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes (Group 1)
4.50pm Clipper Logistics Boomerang Stakes (Group 2)
5.25pm Coolmore ‘Fastnet Rock’ Matron Stakes (Group 1)
6.00pm Irish Stallion Farms EBF ‘Sovereign Path’ Premier Handicap
MONDAY OUTLOOK: DONCASTER IS THE REAL LOSER IN CHAMPION STAKES SHAKE-UP
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