O'Brien set to run three in Stakes

Aidan O’Brien looks set to have maximum of three runners in Saturday’s Ireland The Food Island Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

The champion trainer has been enduring a rough period of late as his yard has been badly hit by the cough but he reports his older stable stars to be back on track now.

O’Brien had 15 horses among the original entries for the race but five of those have now emerged as possible runners.

Coral Eurobet Eclipse Stakes winner Hawk Wing, who was also second in the Sagitta 2000 Guineas and Vodafone Derby, is one of those possible runners at this stage along with his galloping companion Sholokov, who finished behind him in the Sandown event in July.

The pair could run but if they are not quite right O’Brien could choose to reroute dual Derby winner High Chaparral to the Leopardstown race.

The son of Sadler’s Wells also has the option of a crack at the Prix Niel in France a week later before an expected tilt at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

High Chaparral would be dropping back in trip to a mile and a quarter and should he run he is likely to be joined by his galloping companion Ice Dancer, who has not been seen since winning a Listed contest last October.

O’Brien may also run Castle Gandolfo who was sixth in the Prix du Jockey-Club at Chantilly last time out.

The trainer is planning to leave his decision until the last moment and said: “They are all still in work and everything will depend on how things go for a couple of days yet.

“They are coming back off a break and seem well. High Chaparral is forward enough for Leopardstown if we need him.”