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Auguste Rodin, King Of Steel, Nashwa, Onesta, and Alflaila are among the top contenders for the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on the opening day of the Irish Champions Festival.
Auguste Rodin, trained by Aidan O'Brien, is aiming for a comeback after a disappointing performance in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes at Ascot. O'Brien will also run last year's winner Luxembourg, who will face off against the runner-up from the previous year, Onesto, trained by Fabrice Chappet and ridden by Frankie Dettori.
The race will also see a rematch between Auguste Rodin and King Of Steel, trained by Roger Varian, who were separated by only half a length at Epsom. White Birch, trained by John Murphy, and Sprewell, trained by Jessica Harrington, will also participate, making it a clash between the top four horses from Epsom.
Joseph O'Brien's Al Riffa, winner of the Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes, is another strong contender after finishing just three-parts of a length behind Ace Impact at Deauville.
Alflaila, trained by Owen Burrows, enters the race on a four-race winning streak after winning the Gr.2 York Stakes. Its late addition to the race adds to the British challenge, which also includes Nashwa, trained by John & Thady Gosden, and Bay Bridge, trained by Sir Michael Stoute.
Star filly Tahiyra, trained by Dermot Weld, is aiming for her fourth career Group One victory in the Coolmore America 'Justify' Matron Stakes. After winning the Moyglare Stud Stakes, the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas, and the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot last season, she leads the remaining 21 entries alongside Ger Lyons' Zarinsk and the Aidan O'Brien-trained Meditate. Paddy Twomey, who trained last year's winner, may also be represented by Just Beautiful, owned by Moyglare Stud Farm.
Top Contenders For The Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Flying Five Stakes
Among the remaining entries for the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Flying Five Stakes, John Quinn's Highfield Princess is aiming for another win at the Irish Champions Festival, while Art Power, a four-time Curragh victor from Tim Easterby's stable, and Archie Watson's Bradsell, who beat Princess at Royal Ascot, are also formidable contenders. French trainer Yann Barberot's Bouttemont is set to take part, as well as Ladies Church from Johnny Murtagh's yard and The Antarctic from Aidan O'Brien's team. Meanwhile, Hamish, trained by William Haggas and last year's runner-up, has recently found success at Goodwood, making him a strong contender for victory in the race. Doncaster St Leger hero Eldar Eldarov, trained by Roger Varian, and Dawn Rising and Valiant King from Joseph O'Brien's team, along with Yashin from Jessica Harrington's stable, are other British contenders.
In the Group One Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes, the unbeaten City Of Troy from O'Brien's yard will put his record on the line, facing off against Adrian Murray's Bucanero Fuerte, a three-time Curragh winner who comes into the race off the back of a four-length victory in the Gr.1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes. Diego Velazquez and Henry Longfellow, also from O'Brien's yard, are also in the running, along with Givemethebeatboys from Harrington's team and Tamrat from Ger Lyons. City Of Troy will be stepping up to seven furlongs for the first time.
In the Gr.1 Moyglare Stud Stakes, Ylang Ylang, also from O'Brien's stable, is among the 18 remaining contenders. She has won her first two starts, and Donnacha O'Brien's Porta Fortuna, who won at Royal Ascot and finished as the runner-up in the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes, is also competing. Vespertilio, the winner of the Gr.2 Alpha Centauri Debutante Stakes, is another contender, as are Red Viburnum from Dermot Weld's yard and Fallen Angel from Karl Burke's team.