Golden Horn and Gleneagles top Irish Champion Stakes field

Classic heroes Golden Horn and Gleneagles star among nine horses confirmed for a mouthwatering renewal of the Qipco Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday.

John Gosden’s Derby winner Golden Horn threatened to dominate the middle-distance division after following up in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown in July, but suffered a shock defeat and lost his unbeaten record when touched off by Arabian Queen in last month’s Juddmonte International at York.

Gleneagles completed the 2000 Guineas double at Newmarket and the Curragh in the spring for Aidan O’Brien, but has not been seen since making it three from three for the year in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, missing several engagements due to unfavourable ground conditions in the meantime.