< Almanzor won a vintage renewal of the Qipco Irish Champion Stakes in thrilling fashion at Leopardstown.

Held up in the rear early on, the French Derby winner pounced on the outside under Christophe Soumillon to continue a brilliant season for trainer Jean-Claude Rouget.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained Found put in a strong challenge under Frankie Dettori but Almanzor (7-1) was just too strong close home.

O'Brien's Alice Springs powered home for an impressive success in the Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes.

Ryan Moore was happy to hold the 5-1 chance at the rear of the field as Creggs Pipes made the running, but winner rattled home to win by an emphatic three and a quarter lengths from Persuasive < Awtaad (2-1) bounced back from a disappointing Goodwood outing to land the Clipper Logistics Boomerang Stakes for Kevin Prendergast.

The Irish 2,000 Guineas hero took it up from Custom Cut a furlong from home and kept on well to cross the line a length and a half to the good.< Zhukova (5-2) made a winning return from an absence of 122 days to foil O'Brien's triple assault on the KPMG Enterprise Stakes.

Dermot Weld's charge stormed clear of the pace-setting Tree Of Knowledge over a furlong out and opened up a big enough advantage to hold the late charge of US Army Ranger with the 8-11 favourite coming up short by half a length.< Douglas Macarthur disappointed as Landfall (9-1) won the Group Three Willis Towers Watson Champions Juvenile Stakes.

O'Brien's 8-13 chance took them along in the early stages but was joined by the Ken Condon-trained winner turning for home and the latter found much more for pressure to score by two and a quarter lengths from Fiery Speech.

There was a one-two for Tony Martin in the Irish Stallion Farms E.B.F. 'Petingo' Handicap as Quick Jack (5-1) flew home to deny stable companion Pyromaniac by a neck.< Rain Goddess sprang a 50-1 surprise when making a winning debut in the opening Ballylinch Stud EBF Fillies Maiden, finishing strongly to beat the trailblazing Holiday Girl with a length to s