GLOW WHAT A KNIGHT!

THE English raider Decorated Knight sprung a huge surprise to land the QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown yesterday.

Roger Charlton’s charge went off an unconsidered 25/1 shot but belied those odds with an amazing last to first charge.

Beforehand this race looked a good opportunity for Churchill to regain the winning thread but he could manage only seventh.

At the line Decorated Knight had half a length to spare over compatriot Poet’s Word with Eminent back in third which made it a clean sweep for English horses.

“That’s fantastic. What a result. In my wildest dreams I didn’t think he could come from last to beat a field like that,” said Roger Charlton.

There was another major surprise lying in wait in the day’s other Group 1 as Hydrangea shocked stablemate Winter in the Matron Stakes.