Rip leads Champion six :: Horse Racing News

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19:58 Thursday 9th February 2012

Updated: 2nd September 2010

Rip leads Champion six

PA News

Rip Van Winkle heads Aidan O'Brien's three-strong team as the Ballydoyle trainer seeks a sixth success in the Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday.

Stable jockey Johnny Murtagh takes the ride on last month's Juddmonte International Stakes winner, who faces five rivals in the mile-and-a-quarter feature.

Seamus Heffernan will partner Irish Derby hero Cape Blanco while O'Brien's son Joseph will be aboard Beethoven. The trainer withdrew his other entries Fame And Glory and Black Quartz at the final declaration stage.

Owner Prince Khalid Abdullah will be double-handed with Dermot Weld's Famous Name and Twice Over. The last-named, trained by Henry Cecil, was runner-up to Rip Van Winkle at York having previously landed the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.

Completing the sextet is Mark Johnston's Sea Lord, who was supplemented for 75,000 euros at Monday's confirmation stage. The Godolphin-owned Cavalryman, who has an alternative date in Germany, and the Clive Cox-trained Poet, were the other absentees.