Irish Champion Stakes 2025 Tips & Full Race Preview – Expert Selection At Leopardstown

The Irish Champion Stakes is the jewel in Leopardstown’s crown, a Group 1 over ten furlongs that has defined careers and shaped seasons. This is the race where proven older stars clash with the cream of the Classic generation, and it often doubles as a key trial for the autumn showpieces like the Arc. This year’s renewal brings together a mix of toughness, flair, and raw potential. With the ground expected to ride on the softer side, balance and stamina will be just as important as class. Billy Grimshaw takes you through the main contenders and makes his case for the winner.

Leopardstown’s layout means there’s nowhere to hide. The sweeping bends, the long run-in, and the uphill finish expose any flaws in rhythm or stamina. That’s why DELACROIX appeals most. He is still learning but each run has hinted at more to come. At York two starts back he travelled like a proper horse, sitting in behind a searching pace, and when asked to quicken he lengthened rather than panicked. That balance of gears and temperament is exactly what you need here. He has also shaped as though cut in the ground helps rather than hinders. If you’re looking for a colt who could stamp himself as the next big thing, Delacroix has that profile. The only negative is his relative inexperience against seasoned Group 1 warriors, but freshness can be an edge, and this feels like his chance to show his ceiling is higher still.

Anmaat is the proven yardstick. A model of consistency, he often travels strongly and finds plenty under pressure. His tactical speed makes him adaptable, and in a messy race he’d be right there. But his very best has come on ground no worse than good, and if conditions deteriorate his punch late may not land as hard. Another concern is his tendency to move through his races so well that he hits the front early. At Leopardstown, that can leave you exposed for the final 100 yards when a closer swoops past. He has the class to run well but looks a shade vulnerable in this exact set-up.

White Birch is one punters will latch onto thanks to his reliability. Rarely does he run a bad race, and his ability to stay strongly is a huge plus at ten furlongs on testing ground. He also has course form, which not many here actually boast, interestingly. The downside is that he tends to grind rather than quicken, and in a championship race where a change of pace is often the difference, that can limit his winning chance. He could easily run into the frame but needs others to underperform to actually win. Of course, he's also been very hard to keep right.

Shin Emperor is the potential joker in the pack. His cruising speed has impressed at times and if he gets into a rhythm he looks the part, but the nagging doubt is his head. Too often he has raced freely, pulling hard and wasting precious energy. In a European Group 1, any keenness is punished, and that makes him difficult to side with. Add in his relative inexperience at this level and in this continent, and it’s likely he’ll find this a bit too much again..

Point Lonsdale will be there to try and make the running. When he dictates, he looks a different animal, striding out and grinding rivals down. But when taken on early he doesn’t always fight back, and this field is too good to hand him an easy lead. He also lacks the tactical speed of some of his younger rivals. His best chance is to get a breather mid-race, but that looks unlikely and he is here for his more high profile stablemate.

When you weigh up the field, the demands of Leopardstown and the likely pace, it boils down to who can travel kindly, conserve energy, and unleash a decisive run late. For me, DELACROIX is that horse. He has the stride, the balance, and the attitude to turn promise into proof at the highest level. The dangers all have their positives, but each carries a flaw that could be cruelly exposed on this stage. Delacroix may not be as battle-hardened as some, but this is the day for him to show he belongs at the top table.