Day one of the Irish Champions Festival takes place at Leopardstown on Saturday
Aidan O'Brien is bidding to win the Champion Stakes for the 13th time
Recommended bet: Delacroix to win
Day one of the Irish Champions Festival takes place on Saturday at Leopardstown with the Foxrock track boasting a stunning nine-race card that is headlined by the Irish Champion Stakes.
That's one of five Group races on the card, alongside some cracking handicaps, and July's Eclipse winner Delacroix will be aiming to hand trainer Aidan O'Brien a record-extending 13th victory in the race and his sixth in seven years.
Our racing expert has picked a NAP and Next Best selection for the Irish Champion Stakes, which goes to post at 17:30 on Saturday.
The latest Irish Champion Stakes odds are available with LiveScore Bet
Delacroix to deliver for O'Brien
O'Brien's utter domination of this contest was halted last year as Economics scored for William Haggas but normal service may resume now.
Delacroix is one of four three-year-old contenders in a field of eight and this race has gone to one from the Classic generation in each of the last four years as St Mark's Basilica, Luxembourg, Auguste Rodin and Economics landed the prize.
They get 6lb from their older rivals and Delacroix is rated at least 9lb superior to the next best three-year-old.
He's also 3lb clear on official ratings from the likes of Anmaat for Owen Burrows and Japanese raider Shin Emperor.
The Dubawi colt produced a scintillating late run to land the Eclipse at Sandown in July, atoning for his defeat in the Epsom Derby as favourite.
He couldn't confirm that form with Ombudsman in the Juddmonte International, finishing second, but with John & Thady Gosden preferring to save their charge for next month's Champion Stakes at Ascot, the trilogy meeting is on hold and the stage is clear for Delacroix on home soil as he looks for a third course and distance win at Leopardstown this term.
The latest Irish Champion Stakes odds are available with LiveScore Bet
Zahrann making waves for Murtagh
Anmaat and Royal Champion are solid seven-year-olds but Swain, aged six, in 1998 is the oldest horse to capture this prestigious prize and they are up against it on that basis.
White Birch returns from a break and needs to bring his very best, while Shin Emperor was a length third in this 12 months ago and could run well for Japan.
Hotazhell is interesting on his two-year-old form, but Jessica Harrington's Too Darn Hot colt has lost his way this year.
Zahrann debuted only in the spring but Johnny Murtagh's Night Of Thunder colt has progressed rapidly.
Runner-up in the King Edward VII Stakes at Ascot in June over 1m4f, he didn't seem to be crying out for a drop back in trip.
However, he really rallied to win a Group 3 over track and trip last month on his only start since and he could be doing as well as any in the home straight in his first foray into Group 1 company.
Next Best: Zahrann each-way @ 6/1
The latest Irish Champion Stakes odds are available with LiveScore Bet
