Churchill Heavily Backed For Qipco Irish Champion Stakes

Churchill has been heavily supported for the Qipco Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday week,

Aidan O'Brien's dual 2000 Guineas hero was bitterly disappointing in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot in June and was a late withdrawal from the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood on account of the deteriorating conditions.

He returned to action when tackling a mile and a quarter for the first time in the Juddmonte International at York and raised his game to fill the runner-up spot behind Ulysses. The Ballydoyle handler immediately nominated the Irish Champion Stakes as his likely next port of call and he has been backed from 6-4 to Even money with William Hill to get back on the winning trail.

"It is still a decent field, but Churchill is the only one we can lay," said William Hill spokesman Rupert Adams.

Qipco Irish Champion Stakes, William Hill bet: Churchill evens, Highland Reel 6-1, Cliffs Of Moher 10-1, Eminent 10-1, Deauville 14-1, Success Days 33-1.