Irish Champions Weekend: Ryan Moore expects Luxembourg to take a big step forward

Ryan Moore believes Vadeni has every right to be favourite for the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown, but expects his mount Luxembourg to improve leaps and bounds for a comeback run last month.

A Group One winner at two, Luxembourg ran a race full of promise when third in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket but picked up a problem which kept him off the track for over three months.

While he returned with a victory in the Royal Whip Stakes, he only scrambled home by a neck from Insinuendo but Moore expects him to prove a different proposition this weekend.

"Obviously it hasn't been a straightforward year for him. He had a lovely two-year-old career, a very good run in the Guineas but unfortunately he wasn’t right after that race," said Moore, on a call hosted by Horse Racing Ireland.

"He needed his run at the Curragh last month and he got the job done. We’d be hopeful he can come forward from that run. A mile and a quarter at Leopardstown, with rain around which shouldn’t be a problem, should suit."

Looking towards the opposition, Moore pointed to the Eclipse winner, Jean-Claude Rouget’s Vadeni, as the main challenger.

"Vadeni has clearly improved from the French Debry to beat the older horses in the Eclipse and he’s probably entitled to be favourite. Maybe Mishriff was a little unfortunate that day but he’s still open to improvement," he said.

"Obviously Jean-Claude Rouget has an excellent record in the race and he likes to target it. It’s always a good race."

The other Group One on Saturday is the Coolmore America 'Justify’ Matron Stakes with Moore set to ride Tenebrism against the likes of Homeless Songs and Saffron Beach.

"She’s still a three-year-old filly, still getting better so I’m sure she’ll run a good race.