With the defection of Arc favourite Ace Impact and dual Group 1 winner Mostahdaf, King Of Steel has been installed as favourite for the race. Despite an emphatic win in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, the three-year-old shaped like a return to ten furlongs and a faster surface would suit when third over the same course and distance in the Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. A winner over a mile as a juvenile, it will be King OfSteel's first attempt over ten furlongs.
"The ground will be on the quick side of good which wouldn't concern us overly based on his runs at Epsom and Royal Ascot," said Tom Pennington, racing manager for Amo Racing.
"There is no such thing as an easy Group One but hopefully our patience will be rewarded. We've looked after him this year and Roger has been very patient and we're excited."
Auguste Rodin finished ahead of King Of Steel when recording an impressive victory in the Epsom Derby. The Aidan O'Brien-trained colt was disappointing in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, held up in the rear and becoming detached from the field in the final straight. He was never involved in the race, which was a performance reminiscent of the colt's poor show in the 2000 Guineas at the start of the campaign. Although the Master of Ballydoyle has proved he can get Auguste Rodin back after such a lacklustre performance, it would be a concern that the cause of his disappoints have not been identified.
Last year's Irish Champion Stakes second Onesto will travel over from France for a repeat bid in the Irish showpiece. He has only raced once this season, finishing an eye-catching fourth in the 1m Group 1 Prix Jacques Le Marois over a trip that would have been shorter than ideal.
"He has never run a bad race, he has been unlucky a few times, but he rarely runs a bad race. So I expect a good run one more time," said trainer Fabrice Chappet.
"He had a little issue in the spring, but the best races for him are coming up now anyway. He is a very versatile horse, he is a Group One winner going 2400 metres [Grand Prix de Paris] and ran a very good race in this last year going 2000 metres and also ran a good race down in trip in the Jacques le Marois.
"He definitely has more speed than a mile and a half horse and he can probably do anything from a mile to middle distances – he showed a good bit of speed last time."
Alflaila has been supplemented at the cost of an eye-watering 75,000 euros for the Group 1 event following his comfortable victory in the Group 2 York Stakes in July.
"Alflaila wasn't in the Irish Champion initially because he obviously had a little injury at the end of last year and we hadn't seen him back on the track when the entries were made, but it now makes sense to have a go at this," said Angus Gold, Shadwell's racing manager
"It's a very high-class race, as you would expect, but we'll have a go and see what happens."
Nashwa has been bravely campaigned this season and picked up a second in the tactically run Group 1 JuddmonteInternational Stakes at York behind stablemate Mostahdaf. She has solid credentials over ten furlongs, having achieved dual Group 1 victories in the Prix de Diane (French Oaks) and Nassau Stakes last year. Although the filly is yet to win over the distance this season, she has had excuses when trying ten furlongs - including the soft ground when attempting to win back to back Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
