Why this horse can win the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday

The Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes (3.20 Leopardstown) is the highlight on day one of the Irish Champions Festival on Saturday and we're in for a cracker. Which big name will come out on top?

Forecast odds: 9-4

By Maddy Playle

Strong support for King Of Steel can prove well placed in this year's Irish Champion Stakes. The Derby second emerged best of the three-year-olds in a demanding King George and he can reverse Epsom form with Auguste Rodin, who was deplorable at Ascot and now comes with risks attached.

King Of Steel's strength is his turn of foot and this test should suit him particularly well. Onesto ran a big race in this last year and can go well again, while Nashwa should be bang there.

King Of Steel15:20 Leopardstown

Jky: Kevin Stott Tnr: Roger Varian

Forecast odds: 5-2

By Sam Hardy

Aidan O'Brien has won this for the last four years and is well represented again. Preference is for dual Derby hero Auguste Rodin in the hope he can return to form after his disappointing run at Ascot.

Last season's winner Luxembourg could prove the main threat to his stablemate, but needs to improve on what we have seen in two runs since his win at the Curragh this season.

Auguste Rodin15:20 Leopardstown

Jky: Ryan Moore Tnr: A P O'Brien

Forecast odds: 7-1

By James Hill

For all I'm a fan of King Of Steel, he was beaten fair and square in the King George and is dropping back in distance, so there are enough question marks about him to force me to look elsewhere.

Nashwa is rock-solid over this trip and ran an excellent race when splitting Mostahdaf and Paddington in the Juddmonte last time. The Gosdens have an excellent record in this race, having won with Muhtarram back in 1993, and The Fugue (2013), Golden Horn (2015) and Roaring Lion (2018) more recently.

Nashwa15:20 Leopardstown

Jky: Hollie Doyle Tnr: John & Thady Gosden

Irish Champion Stakes: 1-2-3 predictions

Maddy Playle

1 King Of Steel
2 Onesto
3 Nashwa

Sam Hardy

1 Auguste Rodin
2 Luxembourg
3 King Of Steel

James Hill

1Nashwa
2 King Of Steel
3 Auguste Rodin

Paddy Power: 11-4 Auguste Rodin, King Of Steel, 6 Onesto, 13-2 Alflaila, 15-2 Al Riffa, Nashwa, 9 Luxembourg, 50 Sprewell, 100 Point Lonsdale

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