ONLY SIX horses have been declared for today's renewal of the Group One £150,000 Irish Champion Stakes, but while not quite up to the standard of last year's race when Pentire short headed Freedom Cry subsequently narrowly beaten in the Arc de Triomphe and the Breeders Cup Turf it has attracted the Derby winner, Shaamit, as well as Irish Oaks heroine Dance Design and the tough globetrotting filly Timarida.

Shaamit will obviously be hard to beat. He won what many would consider a sub standard Derby but that was only his third ever start and he did win in a fast time from Dushyantor.

The latter ran below par in the Irish Derby but having redeemed himself at York is favourite for today's St Leger where he has the Dermot Weld trained Royal Ascot winner Gordi to fear.

Shaamit arguably ran an even better race at Ascot when finishing a close up third behind Pentire and Classic Cliche in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. However, like Sir Ivor of old, who won the Derby but was essentially a 10 furlong horse, Shaamit may well be better suited to today's shorter distance. He possesses a good turn of foot and is now reunited with his Epsom partner Michael Hills.

Godolphin's Tamayaz was impressive in winning a Group Three at Haydock over this distance a month ago but he may be a little out of his depth here. Glory Of Dancer was said to have disliked the loose ground when finishing fourth behind Tamayaz at Haydock but he was well beaten, as he was by Shaamit in the Derby.

If there are dangers to Shaamit I believe the two Irish trained fillies, Timarida and Dance Design, will bustle him. The Aga Khan's filly has been in good nick since winning the Grade One Beverly D Stakes over an extended nine furlongs at Arlington three weeks ago. She previously won a Group One at Munich and prior to that broke a blood vessel in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot. She won twice over this course last year, twice at the Curragh (Group Three), a premier handicap at Galway and Group Twos at Longchamp and Woodbine, Canada. She appears to be at her best in the autumn and 19 furlongs is ideal.

The younger Dance Design just got home from Shamadara in the Irish Oaks but, like Shaamit, may be better suited to 10 furlongs.

Shamadara subsequently disappointed in the Yorkshire Oaks.

Idris has been supplemented. Jim Bolger's filly is extraordinarily tough and consistent but has something to find on Timarida and Tamayaz.

I expect to see Shaamit win an interesting contest, possibly from Timarida.

Eveningperformance tried to make all the running in the Group One Nunthrope Stakes at York but was collared on the line by Pivotal. This pace forcing mare will be hard to catch in the Group Three Flying Five. She certainly holds Catch The Blues on York running.