IRISH CHAMPION STAKES:DUKE OF MARMALADE is back into favourite for Saturday's Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes after he was declared 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 big as 3-1 on Betfair and New Approach having been into odds-on favourite with some firms. But the clash is now back on.
Although William Hill make the big two 11-10 joint-favourites, most firms have the Ballydoyle inmate as the clear market-leader.
Paddy Power, spokesman of the Irish bookmakers, said: "Aidan's warning that the race may come too soon for "The Duke" and likely softer ground than he has been running on means the granite horse is available at what might be a generous 10-11.
"We've experience of taking him on before and come mightily unstuck!" William Hill's Tony Kenny added: "The rumours surrounding Duke Of Marmalade have resulted in Aidan O'Brien's charge drifting out from 1-2 favourite to 11-10. On the other hand, New Approach has been really well backed and he's now the biggest loser in our Irish Champion Stakes book."
Pat Flynn's She's Our Mark is as big as 100-1 with some bookmakers, but the Co Waterford handler has warned punters he is not running his filly to make up the numbers. The four-year-old also held an entry in the Matron Stakes on the same card but Flynn has opted to let her take on the big boys.
"We looked at the Matron but I knew there would only be nine or 10 runners in the big race and we will get our money back just for turning up," said Flynn.
"I think this trip suits her so hopefully, we can finish higher up in the money. She ran well to finish second at Gowran last time and we were unlucky to bump into a very good filly (Katiyra) on the day.
"There is Duke Of Marmalade and New Approach in there, but we will be trying to win the race if we can - we are not just going for the day out. They have four legs and our filly has four legs and she is in good form, so we will see."
Kevin Prendergast has decided to let Mores Wells take his chance following his victory over Washington Irving in the Ballyroan Stakes last month.
"He has come out of the Leopardstown race very good and he handled the heavy ground well," said Prendergast.
Aidan 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.
The nine-strong field is completed by Lord Admiral.
O'Brien appears to have a strong hand in the Coolmore Fusaichi Pegasus Matron Stakes with four of the 12 acceptors hailing from Ballydoyle.
Halfway To Heaven heads the team following victories in the Irish 1000 Guineas and the Nassau Stakes, top-class juveniles Listen and You'resothrilling make their seasonal debuts, while the quartet is completed by Psalm.
Nassau runner-up and subsequent Yorkshire Oaks scorer Lush Lashes lines up for Jim Bolger, while Falmouth Stakes heroine Nahoodh takes her chance for Mark Johnston. Also making the journey from Britain are Gerard Butler's Baharah and James Given's Lady Gloria, while the line-up is completed by Cheyenne Star, Dimenticata, Mooretown Lady and Carribean Sunset.
Trainer Frances Crowley is expecting a bold show from Cheyenne Star as long as there is not too much rain. "She's in great form. We're just keeping an eye on the weather and hoping all the rain which is forecast doesn't come," said Crowley.
"The ground is nice up there at the moment so we are just hoping. There's a lot of rain forecast for tomorrow evening into Saturday. I think she's going to run really well. Obviously it's a big step up in class but we're looking forward to it."
Lush Lashes is the 7-4 favourite with Cashmans to gain revenge on her Nassau Stakes conqueror Halfway To Heaven on Saturday.
With Aidan O'Brien saddling four runners, the same firm make the Ballydoyle maestro a 4-5 chance to secure yet another top-level success.
Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes- Stan James bet: 4-5 Duke Of Marmalade, 6-4 New Approach, 12-1 King Of Rome, 16-1 Multidimensional, 33-1 Mores Wells, 40-1 Lord Admiral, 66-1 Traffic Guard, 66-1 She's Our Mark, 66-1 Red Rock Canyon.
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.
Paddy Power bet:10-11 Duke Of Marmalade, 11-8 New Approach, 10-1 King Of Rome, 16-1 Multidimensional, 25-1 Mores Wells, 33-1 Lord Admiral, 50-1 Traffic Guard, 66-1 Red Rock Canyon, 100-1 She's Our Mark.
Coolmore Fusaichi Pegasus Matron Stakes- Cashmans bet: 7-4 Lush Lashes, 9-4 Halfway To Heaven, 7-1 Nahoodh, 8-1 Carribean Sunset, 8-1 Listen, 10-1 You'resothrilling, 10-1 Lady Gloria, 20-1 Baharah, 20-1 Cheyenne Star, 20-1 Psalm, 25-1 Dimenticata, 66-1 Mooretown Lady.
