Rematch back on as Duke and New Approach line up

Published on Thursday 4 September 2008 23:25

DUKE Of Marmalade is back as the favourite for tomorrow's Irish Champion Stakes after he was declared after all for the Leopardstown heat.

Aidan O'Brien's four-year-old is unbeaten in five Group One starts this season and had Jim Bolger's reopposing New Approach back in third when landing the rearranged Juddmonte International at Newmarket.

There had been doubts a rematch would take place earlier this week, with Duke Of Marmalade drifting out to as much as 3-1 on Betfair and New Approach having been odds-on favourite with some firms. But the clash is back on.

William Hill make the big two 11-10 joint-favourites, but most firms now have the Duke as the clear market-leader.

O'Brien will also saddle Red Rock Canyon and King Of Rome, while Henry Cecil's Multidimensional and the Jane Chapple-Hyam-trained Traffic Guard are the two British representatives. Kevin Prendergast has decided to let Mores Wells take his chance after his victory over Washington Irving in the Ballyroan Stakes last month, She's Our Mark runs for Pat Flynn, and the nine-strong field is completed by Lord Admiral.

O'Brien, meanwhile, is triple-handed for the Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock Park tomorrow with US Ranger, Astronomer Royal and Abraham Lincoln declared yesterday.

Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes: William Hill bet:

11-10 Duke Of Marmalade, 11-10 New Approach, 12-1 King Of Rome, 16-1 Multidimensional, 20-1 Mores Wells, 40-1 Lord Admiral, 66-1 Traffic Guard, 100-1 She's Our Mark, 100-1 Red Rock Canyon.