STAR DELACROIX ONE IN A 'MILLON

CHRISTOPHE Soumillon is relishing the opportunity to partner Delacroix in the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

- BY JOSH LUCKHURST

It is nine years since the Belgian-born rider steered French raider Almanzor to victory in the Foxrock track's Group One feature and he has high hopes of doubling his tally aboard Aidan O'Brien's Coral-Eclipse victor today, having been called up to replace the sidelined Ryan Moore.

Soumillon said: "I'm very happy to have the chance to ride him, he's an amazing horse so I'm very happy and excited to be on him tomorrow.

"He's a big favourite, for sure I hope we have a great chance. He's a nice horse, he looks one of the best in the world at the moment at this distance, so we are going to try our best."

A disappointing run in the Derby aside, Delacroix has not done much wrong this season, winning twice over this course and distance in the spring, beating Ombudsman in an Eclipse thriller at Sandown in early July before playing second fiddle to the same rival in the Juddmonte International.

O'Brien, who has a record 12 Irish Champion Stakes wins on his CV, said: "He loves the 10 furlongs at Leopardstown, he's got some good form there.

"York was a bit of a nonevent for him but everything has gone well since then.