Rip tops Champion sextet

by Setanta Staff , 02 September 2010

Aidan O'Brien is responsible for three of the six runners declared for Saturday's Tattersalls Millions Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.


O'Brien has won the Group One five times but he is without a victory since Dylan Thomas landed the second of his two Champion Stakes victories in 2007.

His string this year looks to be a strong one with recent Juddmonte International winner Rip Van Winkle given the go ahead to start alongside Irish Derby hero Cape Blanco.

Stable jockey Johnny Murtagh will partner Rip Van Winkle in the contest with Seamus Heffernan joining Cape Blanco, while Joseph O'Brien will be aboard Beethoven.

The decision to run Rip Van Winkle and Cape Blanco means there is no room for multiple Group One winner Fame And Glory or Black Quartz.

Henry Cecil's Twice Over has been confirmed following his second-place finish to Rip Van Winkle in the Juddmonte last time. As well as the Coral-Eclipse winner, owner Prince Khalid Abdullah will be represented by the Dermot Weld-trained Famous Name.

Mark Johnston's Sea Lord was supplemented at Monday's confirmation stage and he has stood his ground for Saturday's ten furlong feature.

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