Holland has grounds for concern

Darryll Holland is bitterly disappointed that the ground at Leopardstown has been artificially changed to good prior to Saturday’s Ireland the Food Island Champion Stakes, in which he rides leading hope Falbrav.

Holland has partnered Falbrav to victory in two Group Ones this season – the Coral-Eclipse and the Juddmonte International – over this trip of a mile and a quarter.

And the Luca Cumani-trained five-year-old excels on fast ground.

Holland said: “It seems the management have watered for one horse, and it’s not for mine. Falbrav needs fast ground. The ground at Leopardstown was naturally fast, so how can it be good now?

“I’ve given up good rides in Group One races over the weekend to ride on fast ground at Leopardstown. It’s very disappointing.

“Some have asked for watering to be done in order to produce safe ground. Watered ground is not safe.”

The ground was officially changed from good to firm after the course was watered yesterday.

Racecourse manager Tom Burke defended his decision, saying: “We watered yesterday so our ground this morning is good, and the forecast going forward is for a dry, warm, sunny day today – which it is. It’s beautiful here.

“It should be dry tonight and again tomorrow, but a bit of light drizzle is forecast for the Dublin area tomorrow afternoon. At this stage they are just expecting about two millimetres, or maybe not even that.

“It’s set to be dry tomorrow night again, and dry again on Saturday.”

Further water may be applied at the track, depending on how the course dries today.

“We’ll assess the ground again tomorrow morning and determine if we need to put a bit more water on or not,” added Burke.

“Ideally we would want good to firm, but very, very safe ground.”

Derby winners Alamshar and High Chaparral head a high-quality field of seven declared at the final stage for the race.

Alamshar followed up his victory in the Budweiser Irish Derby with an impressive performance in his first race against older horses in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes.

The Aga Khan’s colt, trained by John Oxx, is to be ridden by Johnny Murtagh, who made a triumphant return from a two-week break at Limerick on Wednesday evening.

High Chaparral, last year’s Vodafone Derby and Breeders’ Cup Turf hero, spearheads a two-pronged attack by Aidan O’Brien, who also runs the three-year-old France.

Stable jockey Michael Kinane will partner High Chaparral, with Seamus Heffernan on France.

Godolphin have won four out the last five runnings of the prestigious contest and they rely on Dubai World Cup winner Moon Ballad this time.

Moon Ballad has failed to sparkle on his two starts since trouncing a high-class field at Nad Al Sheba in March. He will wear a visor for the first time this season in the hope it will spark a return to form.

Michael Stoute runs Islington, the four-year-old filly who returned to her best when winning the Aston Upthorpe Yorkshire Oaks for the second successive year at York last month.

Completing the field is Darley Irish Oaks winner Vintage Tipple, trained by Paddy Mullins.

As expected, Dermot Weld withdrew Sagitta 2000 Guineas winner Refuse To Bend.

Ireland The Food Island Champion Stakes

Coral bet: 11-8 Alamshar, 2-1 Falbrav, 4-1 High Chaparral, 10-1 Islington, 12-1 Moon Ballad, 14-1 Vintage Tipple, 40-1 France.