Earlswood opens up path to Irish Champion Stakes Earlswood, who was last seen finishing fourth in the Irish Derby, stamped his class all over the 10 furlong Group 3 Fitzdares Royal Whip Stakes in the Curragh. The 9/4 favourite was switched out by Shane Kelly to challenge approaching the final furlong. He picked up well to readily hit the front inside the final furlong and swept home by three parts of a length. Reve De Vol took second at 16/1 and he was a length and three parts in front of Finans Bay (22/1). Trainer Johnny Murtagh said: “It’s been a great couple of days, big rides for Shane Kelly but he’s certainly delivered. “I’ve been very happy with this horse since the Derby. Glyn (Davies, owner) lives just up the road from us and brought him home for two weeks after the Derby. He definitely improved for the break. “I thought he might be one gallop short but is a horse that always keeps himself pretty fit. He’s a pretty active horse and always works good. “We had pencilled in a mile and a half at Champions Weekend but he has free entry now (after winning this race) for the Irish Champion Stakes so we’ll have to think about that now. “He’s an improving horse with a great will to win. When he went through the gap today you knew there was only going to be one winner. He stayed on really well. “He has an entry in the English Champion Stakes later in the year.” This is the 200th Anniversary of the Royal Whip Stakes, Ireland's longest-standing continuously staged horse race. Paddy Power cut Earlswood from 50/1 to 33/1 for the Champion Stakes. The bookmaker gave him a first show of 16/1 for the Irish Champion Stakes. On his penultimate start, Earlswood landed the Group 3 Gallinule Stakes over course and distance in May. Kelly won a Group 3 on Create Belief for Murtagh at Leopardstown yesterday. Additional reporting by Alan Magee
