Review leopardstown 4th Sep

< Cape Blanco put up a superb front-running performance to demolish the opposition in the Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained Irish Derby hero, sent off a 6-1 shot, set a fast pace under Seamie Heffernan and had his rivals on the stretch as they turned into the straight in the Group One contest.

It soon became clear that nothing was going to get to him and he passed the post five and a half lengths in front, with his Johnny Murtagh-ridden stable companion Rip Van Winkle just grabbing second spot from Twice Over

O'Brien had a great afternoon and also struck when Lillie Langtry returned to winning form in the other Group One event on the card, the Coolmore Fusaichi Pegasus Matron Stakes.

Murtagh settled the filly in rear, but he was plenty close enough as they turned into the straight, where Kieren Fallon went clear on the British raider Spacious

The mare looked to have established a decisive advantage, but Lillie Langtry wore her down remorselessly and grabbed the lead close home to win by a neck.

O'Brien's clean sweep of the Pattern races was initiated by Await The Dawn who could hardly have been more impressive as he ran away with the Group Three Kilternan Stakes.

Murtagh sat in second for most of the way on the 7-2 joint-favourite before smoothly brushing runner-up South Easter aside at the top of the straight and accelerating clear to win by nine lengths.

The Ballydoyle team also won with Juliet Capulet (7-1), who led all the way in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden under Joseph O'Brien and stretched clear to score by three lengths.

Mick Halford's Hujaylea (8-1) followed up last week's Irish Cambridgeshire success by landing another big prize, the www.thetote.com September Handicap, Conor Hoban getting a dream run to strike by three-quarters of a length.

Donal Kinsella's Vivacious Vivienne (14-1) took the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Autumn Fillies Handicap under Chris Hayes, nailing Sindiyma on the line.