Irish Champions Weekend cards take shape

Vadeni could clash with both Luxembourg and Mishriff in what promises to be a fascinating renewal of the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday.

Owned by the Aga Khan, Vadeni supplemented his Prix du Jockey Club success with a hard-fought victory in the Eclipse at Sandown, where Mishriff was beaten just a neck in a thrilling finish.

Trained by Jean-Claude Rouget and John and Thady Gosden respectively, Vadeni and Mishriff face a new rival in the Aidan O'Brien-trained Luxembourg, who returned with a Curragh victory last month after a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

The 11 contenders for the highlight of the opening day of Irish Champions Weekend also include Grand Prix de Paris victor Onesto, O’Brien’s Oaks winner Tuesday and Paddy Twomey’s Group One winner La Petite Coco.

Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Homeless Songs could have her first spin since that Classic success in May in the other Group One feature, the Coolmore America 'Justify' Matron Stakes.

The mile contest has drawn 13 possibles, with Jane Chapple-Hyam’s Saffron Beach seemingly her main rival after her taking Prix Rothschild success last month.

Melbourne Cup hopefuls Earl Of Tyrone and Point King headline 16 contenders for the Paddy Power Stakes while the Clipper Logistics Boomerang Mile has 15 entries and the KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes has 14 possibles, including five from O’Brien’s yard.

Kyprios is the headliner on Sunday’s Curragh card, with the Ascot Gold Cup and Goodwood Cup victor lining up in the Comer Group Irish St Leger.

Previous winner Search For A Song, the supplemented Rosscarbery and Princess Zoe are in the mix, but the Gosden-trained Stradivarius, who finished third to Kyprios at Ascot and second at Goodwood, has not been added