Adam Williams presents his prediction for the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes (Group 1, 1m2f, 3yo+) horse racing event.
The favourite for the race is unbeaten Economics. The three-year-old from William Haggas's stable has won three starts this season: a maiden and two Group 2 races. His last outing was in the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano over 2000 metres in Deauville, where he made a sustained run from the back of the field. However, winning in this company will be a tough task.
A P O'Brien is represented by five horses, with Auguste Rodin being the highest-rated. Last year's winner of this prize, as well as the British-Irish Derby winner, is, in our opinion, preferred over the current favourite. He won the Prince of Wales's Stakes but finished fifth in the King George And Queen Elizabeth Stakes, which gives hope for a better performance over 10f.
Notably, there is Los Angeles, who has the highest rating among the participants at 119. He first won the Derby trial and then the Irish Derby, also finishing third at Epsom. In his last start at the Great Voltigeur Stakes in York, he outperformed his stablemate Illinois, who is now the favourite for the British Classic taking place also on Saturday.
For the Japanese raider Shin Emperor, trained by Yoshito Yahagi, this will be a preparatory run ahead of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. He hasn’t raced since May, when he finished third in the Japanese version of the Derby. Prior to that, he was fifth in the local equivalent of the 2000 Guineas, the Satsuki Sho. He presents an interesting option for an each-way bet.
