Stars flock to Leopardstown

Doncaster may have the St Leger but it is Leopardstown that has attracted the two best three-yearolds in Europe; Alpha Centauri goes for the Matron Stakes while Roaring Lion attempts to win his third Group One when he lines up for the Irish Champions Stakes.

Alpha Centauri has beaten everything put in front of her since Royal Ascot, fillies, colts and older horses, all by wide margins, and back against fillies of her age group she should have little trouble collecting her fifth straight Group One.

Roaring Lion faces a stiffer task but appears to have the measure of Saxon Warrior these days while French Derby winner Study Of Man has to put a very average effort at Deauville behind him.

At Longchamp tomorrow the French quest for a horse capable of keeping next month’s Prix de L’arc de Triomphe at home – wins for Golden Horn, Found and Enable mean they have not won the race since Treve in 2014 – begins in earnest with three dress rehearsals; the Vermeille, the Foy and the Niel.

The lack of many good horses in France means David Lanigan’s Worth Waiting, winner of her past four races, including a Group Three at Deauville by three lengths last time, has an excellent chance in the Vermeille. Andre Fabre can win the Foy with Talismanic while Charlie Appleby’s Brundtland, winner of his two starts, is an interesting runner in a moderate-looking Niel.