Roaring Lion looks a cut above his rivals, so tops 2018 Irish Champion Stakes betting tips given by Horsebetting.com experts for Group 1 contest over 1m 2f at Leopardstown on Saturday, 15 September. The Aidan O’Brien trained Saxon Warrior looks the likely one to chase him home and secure the forecast spot in this feature contest on Irish Champions Weekend. French raider Study Of Man is another winner in the grade, meanwhile, and appeals each-way. For full details why, read our 2018 Irish Champion Stakes betting tips preview.Roaring Lion impossible to oppose in Irish Champion StakesThe feature race at Leopardstown on Saturday is the 1m 2f Irish Champion Stakes (18:35), and Roaring Lion looks a worthy odds-on favourite and impossible to oppose as he bids to land a hat-trick of Group 1 successes. This John Gosden trained three-year-old ran very well when a staying on 2 1/2 lengths fifth of 14 to Saxon Warrior in 2000 Guineas at Newmarket back in May.
He then relished the step up to the 1m 2f trip of this when impressively when landing the Group 2 Dante Stakes at York, quickening clear at the furlong marker to easily beat Mildenberger by 4 1/2 lengths. Roaring Lion backed that up with a fine two-length third to Masar in the Epsom Derby where the 1m 4f trip seemed to stretch his stamina to the limit, before getting back to winning ways when beating Saxon Warrior by a neck in the Group 1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.
He has since gone to to land the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes at York – again over 1m 2f – in runaway style. The son of Kitten’s Joy only had to be shaken up at the furlong marker by regular pilot Oisin Murphy to quicken clear and easily beat Poet’s Word by 3 1/4 lengths for a career best performance.
Roaring Lion had the re-opposing Saxon Warrior a further 1 3/4 lengths back in fourth – increasing his superiority over that rival on their running in the Eclipse. He’s now three from three over 1m 2f and also officially the highest rated in the line-up off 126; that puts him 6lb clear of Saxon Warrior and miles ahead of the rest.
Over his optimum trip, Roaring Lion looks in a totally different league to his seven rivals and on all know form this is his for the taking. Thus he had to the the main selection in our 2018 Irish Champion Stakes betting tips.Saxon Warrior the obvious forecast choiceThere is no reason why Saxon Warrior should turn the tables on Roaring Line based on their Eclipse and Juddmonte International meetings, but the Aidan O’Brien trained colt looks the obvious forecast choice and the one most likely to take advantage if he fails to live up to expectations.
This son of Deep Impact looked a potential superstar when impressively landing the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket where he he quickened clear to readily beat Tip To Win by 1 1/2 lengths. Pundits started talking about him landing the Triple Crown after that victory, but Saxon Warrior failed in the second leg when he could finish only fourth in The Derby at Epsom.
The three-year-old finished behind Roaring Lion that day and it’s been the same story on both subsequent occasions they have met too. He is clearly inferior to the selection and on all known form firmly held by Gosden’s charge, with the only glimmer of hope for his legion of supporters being the O’Brien team is now in much better form.
They were enduring a quiet spell when Saxon Warrior ran in the Juddmonte International, but it still takes a leap of faith to see him passing the post first in this. He looks set to play second fiddle to Roaring Lion, so our advice is to put him a straight forecast with the red-hot jolly.French raider Study Of Man appeals each-wayWith the dead eight set to go to post, bookmakers will be paying out on the first three home. That makes French raider Study Of Man the one to consider from an each-way betting perspective as he has won three of his five starts, including once at this level.
His Group 1 success came in the French Derby over 1m 2f at Chantilly where the Pascal Bary trained son of Deep Impact led narrowly entering the final furlong and found plenty when pressed to readily beat Patascot by half-a-length. He had some smart sorts and subsequent winners in-behind, so it’s form that commands plenty of respect.
Although Study Of Man was beaten six lengths into third last time out by Knight To Behold in a Group 2 at the same venue, that run came after a 73-day break and he shaped as if needing it. After being held-up well off the pace, he stayed on under tender handling to be nearest at the finish.
That should have tuned up Study Of Man – putting him spot on for this – and it’s worth noting that his only other defeat came after a break. The French also sent over Almanzor to land the spoils in this in 2016, so Study Of Man is not one to be taken lightly. He should be up to making his presence felt, so gets the each-way vote in our 2018 Irish Champion Stakes betting tips.Your Next Bet
