Irish trainer Jim Bolger took advantage of the absence of Aidan O’Brien’s Duke of Marmalade and won the Irish Champion Stakes with his New Approach. The colt, winner of the Epsom Derby gave a brilliant victory to trainer Bolger, who could not be more satisfied.

However, New Approach was not the only champion of the day for Bolger. His filly Lush Lashes previously won the Group One race at Leopardstown, the Matron Stakes. Bolger’s son-in-law Kevin Manning was in charge of riding both winners with New Approach defeating Traffic Guard and More’s Well, which finished second and third.

On the other hand, O’Brien had a bad day that started with the withdrawal of Duke of Marmalade due to the state of the ground and continued with Henrythenavigator and Natagora ending fifth and sixth respectively. “We know that Henry loves fast ground,” O’Brien said. “He has run a good race but the top was coming off the ground and Johnny (Murtagh his rider) said he labored a little.”

The next challenge for New Approach will probably be the Arc of Triumph next October 5 at Longchamp. Trainers expect the ground to be more suitable by then so that all runners can take part in it and make it an attractive contest.