Almanzor wins the Champion for the French

After saddling favourite Qemah into third in the Matron Stakes earlier, Jean-Claude Rouget struck in the Group 1 Qipco Irish Champion Stakes to consign Found to the runner-up spot in the Leopardstown feature for the second year running.

Christophe Soumillon switched the Wootton Bassett three-year-old off at the back and unleashed him down the outer in the straight.

It was Found in the same part of the track that gave the 7/1 victor most to do, but at the line the French-challenger was three parts of a length up.

Found's Ballydoyle stable companion Minding finished two and three parts of a length back in third, after launching her bid down the inner, whilst another Gallic-raider, New Bay was a length and three parts back in fourth. Harzand was slightly impeded early and from a long way out Pat Smullen was niggling at the dual Derby winning market-leader. He eventually came home in eighth place.

"When I knew he wasn't going to win today I looked after him," said Smullen.

"Unfortunately he hadn't got the pace early to get into the position we wanted to be in.

"At the furlong pole I accepted I wasn't going to get anything today so I had to think of the next day.

"He hasn't run a bad race and it's probably the best race I've ever ridden in.

"He'll bounce back and I think back at a mile-and-a-half we'll see the best of him.

"A furlong down when I realised I wasn't going to achieve anything today I was thinking of the Arc."

The successful trainer, Jean-Claude Rouget said: "He's a fantastic horse. I was very relaxed like him in the first part of the race. When I saw him coming on the outside I thought he could challenge for the victory and he did.

"He doesn't look very tired after the race. Christophe told me it was quite an easy race for him.

"After Qemah we were a bit disappointed and I told him only one word - relax.

"When your horse is relaxed you can finish and that was not the case with Qemah.

"She was in the middle of the pack and she couldn't finish like we hoped she would.

"He looks to have had quite an easy race, but it's a race, and it was a good one.

"When I saw the field before the race with all these champions I thought 7/1 was a bit too much. But after the race I think the betting was good.

"We'll see now if he goes to Ascot or for the Arc. We'll decide after a good night.

"For me at the beginning we chose this race because I thought he was more a mile-and-a-quarter horse but with the champions you can do anything."

Christophe Soumillon said in the aftermath: "He's a great horse. I won on him a few times and I knew today that he was going to run a great race.

"It was not easy to think that we were going to win it because it was a very very tough Irish Champion Stakes.

"I'm just lucky the pace was strong and he was very relaxed at the back. When I asked him to go he showed his strong turn of foot so I was very confident.

"When I saw Frankie (Dettori) coming on the inside I knew he was going to give me a hard time as I know Found and she's very solid.

"Just champions can win a race like this and I'm so pleased to have ridden him." Almanzor is 5/1 from 12/1 with Paddy Power for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

The Turf Club Veterinary Officer examined Harzand, trained by D. K. Weld, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to have been struck into behind.

P.J. Smullen, rider of Harzand, trained by D. K. Weld, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount met with interference early in the race but could not hold his position thereafter and ran flat.

The Stewards enquired into an incident at the bend soon after the start involving Highland Reel ridden by C. O'Donoghue, placed seventh, Harzand, ridden by P.J. Smullen, placed eighth and Hawkbill (USA), ridden by W. Buick, placed ninth, where it appeared that both Harzand and Hawkbill (USA) checked. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned.

Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards based on all the evidence available were unable to apportion blame to any rider and therefore took no further action.

Mr. Neville O'Byrne, Acting Steward, absented himself from this enquiry.

S. Foley, rider of Success Days trained by K.J. Condon, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount found the ground too quick for him in the straight.

(GC & EM)