Knight records 25/1 Champion Stakes shock

Decorated Knight provided one of the biggest shocks in the illustrious history of the Qipco Irish Champion Stakes when taking the Leopardstown feature at odds of 25/1.

The Andrea Atzeni-ridden five-year-old, successful on his last Irish visit in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh back in May, produced a devastating run on the outer to lead close home.

The Roger Charlton-trained colt had half a length to spare over Poet's Word who also challenged on the outer, while the front-running Eminent was a further three quarters of a length back in third. Churchill was sent off the red-hot 8/11 favourite as the dual Guineas winner bidded to regain the winning thread following defeats at Royal Ascot and York.

However Ryan Moore didn't enjoy the clearest of runs in the straight and could only ,manage seventh.

Decorated Knight wins the QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes! @LeopardstownRC @IrishChampsWknd pic.twitter.com/0hk1TACoEp

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) September 9, 2017

Charlton said, “He's tough, consistent and very sound. He's produced an amazing turn of foot and ran right to the line. There was nothing flukey about it.

“He's been a bit unlucky in his last couple of races. He hated the ground at York, got bashed about at Sandown in the Eclipse and ran a great race at Royal Ascot.

“He's been on the go since March and he's improved and improved. To keep going all season is a tribute to the horse.

“I was half thinking that this might be his last race. I guess we will now look at the Champion Stakes in Ascot.

“Ireland has been very lucky for me with three Tattersalls Gold Cups, a Pretty Polly and now this.”

Atzeni said, “I still can’t believe he’s won it. We were coming in here with no pressure as he was beaten the last twice. Last time he didn’t handle the soft ground and today he looked a different horse in the paddock. He relaxed really nicely and picked up like a very good horse.

“I expected him to pick up but didn’t think he would pick up that well to go and win the race. The plan was to give him a chance and ride him to run well and pick up the pieces. Luckily he picked up really well and picked them all up.

“I've being very lucky to ride some good horses in big races through my career and this is one of my special days. To be honest I didn’t expect him to win today. I thought he might just run a big race. Maybe he was unlucky in the Eclipse when things didn’t go right and the soft ground in the Juddmonte didn’t suit.

“I just went out there with no pressure, left him alone for most of the race, pulled him out to see what he had left and he picked up well. That was always plan because we knew there was going to be a lot of pace in the race. He had a bad draw and we didn’t want to be caught wide so we gave him a chance and put him to sleep.

“He’s shown how good he is today and he could go anywhere now. He’s already won three Group 1s.”

Betfair and Boylesports both quote Decorated Knight at 8/1 (from 25/1) for the Champion Stakes at Ascot.