2012 Irish Champion Stakes Betting Preview

The Irish Champion Stakes is almost upon us and it will prove to be a decisive point in the season for at least one contender as it carries an automatic berth in the 2012 Breeders' Cup Turf at Santa Anita and a guaranteed entry worth $150,000. That comes on top of the 750,000 Euros up for grabs here as well.

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Nathaniel is still clinging to his spot as the outright betting favourite but there has been some serious steam for Snow Fairy who is not far off the favourites position. It really looks to be a battle between two very fresh and very lightly-raced horses this year as Nathaniel makes just his third start of 2012 while Snow Fairy lines up for the second time after scoring at Deauville two weeks ago in a Group 1 contest.

As it currently stands, punters will find Nathaniel trading at a 13/8 price, which could drift up if Snow Fairy continues to build up momentum. The Ed Dunlop-trained Snow Fairy, who is now a full mare, is priced at a 9/4 listing.

St Nicholas Abbey, easily one of the world's premier flat horses in his own right, is lurking in the shadows, knowing that he's fully capable of pulling off something impressive. He's available at a 7/2 listing and makes his sixth start of the season. He's only managed to find the line first on a single occasion but has been slugging it out at the top level and still hasn't finished off the board once.

Born To Sea is likely going to be popular with the place market punters as the John Oxx colt has finished second in his past two races – both coming at the Curragh. The three-year-old son of Invincible Spirit is still just a maiden winner but gets a competitive weighting and did finish second to Camelot in the Dubai Free Irish Derby.

Look for him to outrun his odds, which are currently standing around 16/1 with most major bookmakes.

Daddy Long Legs has been all over the place this year and has still only mustered up his UAE Derby win at Meydan on Dubai World Cup night. He was pulled up in the Kentucky Derby after breaking from the 1 stall. He shipped back to Ireland for the Irish 2000 Guineas only to finish fourth from eight and then headed back over to the USA for the Arlington Million, winding up last by twelve lengths.

He's 33/1 and is a long shot to get things back on track here.

Light Heavy is available at 40/1 and rounds out the field for this race. He's won three times this year at Leopardstown and mustered a third place finish to Camelot in the Irish Derby. His last outing left a lot to be desired and you do have to wonder whether he's just had too many outings this year.