Mercer will not use trip as an Excuse in Champion
The four-year-old, who is trained by Sir Michael Stoute, has only tackled the trip twice before after some high profile successes over a mile.
No Excuse Needed first ran over a mile and a quarter in the Dubai Champion Stakes last autumn but he finished some distance behind the winner Nayef on unsuitable soft ground.
The Queen Anne Stakes victor tried the trip for a second time on his last run in the Juddmonte International at York but he finished a distant last behind Nayef again.
But Joe Mercer, racing manager to owner Maktoum Al Maktoum, explained there was an excuse for his last outing.
He said: ‘‘Both times he has tried the trip something has gone wrong with him. For some reason at York he finished up lame.
‘‘He must of knocked himself or something and he had little puncture mark so he might have struck into himself.
‘‘He’s bounced back though and he’s a possible runner but he wants good, fast ground.’’
Although No Excuse Needed was left in the field at yesterday’s confirmation stage, Mercer confirmed that he is by no means certain to take his place in the line-up.
‘‘We are thinking about it so we will leave him in and see what else is there.
‘‘I spoke to Michael about it this morning and it is on the cards,’’ he added.
If he runs, No Excuse Needed would face a maximum of 12 rivals in the Leopardstown event.
Eleven of the original entries stood their ground while two horses, Best Of The Bests and Margarula, were supplemented at a cost of 100,000 each.
Best Of The Bests, who was third behind Giant’s Causeway in this race two years ago, has been added to the field so Godolphin are now double-handed as they also have Grandera in the field.
Godolphin’s racing manager Simon Crisford stressed that Best Of The Bests has been entered for the race on his own merits and will not be run for the benefit of his better-fancied stable companion.
He told Godolphin’s official website: ‘‘Best Of The Bests has done well since his last race and this is a good opportunity for him. He is a proven Group One performer and has been campaigned at the highest level throughout his career.
‘‘This is the most suitable race available for Best Of The Bests at the moment - he is not running as a pacemaker. We hope both of our horses run well.’’
Margarula, winner of the Darley Irish Oaks, was also supplemented by trainer Jim Bolger as expected.
The Aidan O’Brien team dominate the list with Castle Gandolfo a likely runner along with either Hawk Wing and Sholokov or High Chaparral and Ice Dancer.
Twentytwoandchange has also been left in by the Ballydoyle maestro.
Gerard Butler has left Common World, who was only just touched off by Century City in the Goffs International last time out, in the Irish event.
The field is completed by the Kevin Prendergast-trained Rebelline, winner of the Tattersalls Gold Cup, but she is only likely to run if the going is on the soft side.
Nayef is the most high profile absentee but Marcus Tregoning did indicate yesterday that the horse was unlikely to take part.
Hawk Wing has been installed as the 1-2 favourite for the event with Cashman’s while Paddy Power have him at 4-6. Grandera is a best-priced 4-1 second favourite with Cashmans.
Ireland the Food Island Champion Stakes betting:
Cashmans: 1-2 Hawk Wing, 4-1 Grandera, 12-1 Best Of The Bests, No Excuses Needed, 16-1 Common World, Sholokhov, Margarula, 33-1 bar.
Paddy Power: 4-6 Hawk Wing, 11-4 Grandera, 8-1 Sholokov, 12-1 Margarula, 14-1 Rebelline, Best Of The Bests, 16-1 No Excuse Needed, 25-1 Common World, 33-1 bar.
