New Approach Justifies Odds to Take Irish Champion Stakes

New Approach returned to winning ways in the Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown today, profiting from the withdrawal of last year's winner Duke of Marmalade to add to his Derby success. Having finished a keen third behind Duke Of Marmalade in the Juddmonte International, Jim Bolger's Derby hero had a point to prove, and was given a no-nonsense ride from Kevin Manning who steered him to victory ahead of the surprise runner-up Traffic Guard.

Punters were denied the mouthwatering rematch between Bolger's charge and Duke Of Marmalade, who was due to race yesterday before a waterlogged track caused the postponement of the meet. And Duke of Marmalade was then withdrawn this morning due to the ground, leaving the way clear for another winning performance from the Epsom Classic scorer.

Sent off at odds of 8-13, New Approach was always close to a brisk pace initiated by Red Rock Canyon. In similar vein to his stablemate Lush Lash's triumph in the Matron earlier on the card, the horse showed great acceleration and brute strength on the turn for home.

New Approach, who was again ponied down to the start, was the strongest inside the last furlong but needed to be kept up to his work to defeat Traffic Guard (50-1) by half a length. Mores Wells stayed on for third, another length and a quarter adrift of the winner.