Favourite Alamshar 'in good order'
Both Paddy Power and Cashmans have John Oxx's three-year-old, winner of both the Budweiser Irish Derby and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes, as the market leader while Falbrav is a best-priced 3-1 with the latter.
Alamshar, who has not been seen on the track since his impressive win at Ascot in July, could have regular partner Johnny Murtagh back on board as he returns from a self-imposed break with two rides for Oxx at Limerick today.
"Alamshar worked this morning and is in good order," Oxx said yesterday. "Johnny rode him on the Peat gallop and we're happy with him.
"As for the Champion Stakes and Johnny riding, we are still taking it one day at a time we'll see how he goes on at Limerick tomorrow."
The opposition is led by Aidan O'Brien's dual Derby winner High Chaparral, who made a successful return to action after injury with a smooth success over 10 furlongs at the Curragh last month.
The four-year-old, who was a dual Derby winner last season, is also 3-1 with Cashmans for the mile and a quarter event.
High Chaparral is reported to be in top form by O'Brien ahead of what will be a busy weekend for the trainer as he runs Hold That Tiger in the Woodward Stakes and Carpanetto in the Man O'War Stakes at Belmont Park in America.
He said: "It's very much depending on the ground whether High Chaparral runs at Leopardstown on Saturday. He's in good form and if it's safe he will run in the Irish Champion Stakes."
The Ballydoyle handler has also left in the three-year-olds France and Statue Of Liberty but the latter is likely to run in the Prix du Moulin at Longchamp on Sunday.
Darley Irish Oaks winner Vintage Tipple has been left in by Paddy Mullins, while a surprise acceptor is Dermot Weld's Sagitta 2000 Guineas hero Refuse To Bend.
Weld will decide tomorrow on Thursday morning whether Refuse To Bend runs in the Champion or goes to Longchamp for the Prix Moulin on Sunday.
"We'll look at the likely make up of the Moulin and check the weather for both places before making a final decision," said Weld last night.
The British contingent is led by Falbrav, who is reported to be in top form by trainer Luca Cumani.
The five-year-old has already won both the Coral Eclipse and Juddmonte International Stakes this season to make him the inaugural British Horseracing Board Middle Distance Champion.
"He's in good form and we have one more piece of work to do with him before the weekend," said Cumani.
"The weather forecast seems encouraging because there shouldn't be any rain coming before Saturday."
Cumani is looking forward to what could be a vintage renewal of the race but he knows his charge faces a tough task in Ireland.
"It's going to be a very good race with Alamshar as the rightful favourite and the one we have to beat," he added.
"He's a King George and Derby winner and is the best three-year-old in Europe at the moment.
"Let's not forget High Chaparral, but I think Alamshar is the one to beat."
Godolphin have left in the Dubai World Cup winner Moon Ballad, and the field is completed by Sir Michael Stoute's Islington, winner of the Aston Upthorpe Yorkshire Oaks last time.
Racecourse manager Tom Burke confirmed that there is little in the way of rain expected at the track this week.
"Our ground is good to firm at the moment and the forecast is for dry conditions today, tomorrow and Thursday," he said.
"There is some rain getting into the west of Ireland on Friday, but the present indications are that it may not even reach the east coast, but if it does it will produce very little in the way of rain.
"It's good to firm at the moment, but we reckon it would have gone firm by tomorrow morning."
However, the absence of rain is not such good news for connections of Ikhtyar and Hamdan Al Maktoum's racing manager Angus Gold confirmed that their rising star would not be taking his chance.
Ireland the Food Island Champion Stakes betting:
Paddy Power: 5-4 Alamshar, 5-2 Falbrav, 4-1 High Chaparral, 7-1 Islington, 10-1 Statue Of Liberty, 14-1 Moon Ballad, Vintage Tipple, 25-1 France.
Cashmans: 5-4 Alamshar, 3-1 Falbrav, High Chaparral, 6-1 Refuse To Bend (with a run), 10-1 Vintage Tipple, 12-1 Islington, 14-1 Moon Ballad.
