Declan McDonogh picks up Luxembourg ride as he aims for Group 1 glory at Leopardstown

Declan McDonogh is looking forward to a strong book of rides on the first day of the Irish Champions Festival as he holds two chances of adding to his Group 1 tally on board Luxembourg in the Irish Champion Stakes and the unbeaten Jancis in the Matron Stakes.

The rider's last Group 1 victory came on this weekend in 2020 when he partnered the Joseph O'Brien-trained Thunder Moon to victory in the National Stakes and he picks up the spin on board Luxembourg in Saturday's Group 1 race.

He is one of four in the race for Aidan O'Brien and he finished runner-up to the reopposing Auguste Rodin in last year's renewal after he took the ten-furlong contest under Ryan Moore in 2022.

The five-year-old has secured Group 1 honours in each of the last four seasons and took the Coronation Cup at Epsom in May prior to finishing sixth in the King George at Ascot.

He's a 14-1 chance to score again in the Irish Champion Stakes, with the William Haggas-trained Economics heading the market 11-8. Auguste Rodin is 3-1 to land successive victories in the race, while Irish Derby winner Los Angeles is an 11-2 chance.

McDonogh said: "I'm very thankful for the opportunity on Luxembourg and I'm looking forward to the ride. He's a very classy horse with a high rating. It's a great renewal of the race and it's good to see all the high-class horses lining up. It's great to be riding in these races and it's a big weekend."

Jancis will aim to enhance her perfect course record and unbeaten status in the Matron Stakes for trainer Willie McCreery and McDonogh will partner her for the first time. She caused a surprise when landing a 7f maiden at the track in June at odds of 40-1 and proved that was no fluke when running out a cosy winner of the Group 3 Brownstown Stakes on her latest start.

Jancis: seeks to extend her unbeaten record in the Matron StakesCredit: Patrick McCann

"Jancis is a progressive filly and two from two at the track," he said. "It's a massive step up but Willie is very happy with her preparation. I sat on her the other morning and hopefully she can make the step up. 

"It's a very hot race but she's entitled to take her chance. I don't think the step up to a mile will be an issue to her. I've ridden her a few times at home and she's fairly straightforward."

McDonogh will feature in the three other Group contests on the card as he teams up with Ballydoyle again with Bernard Shaw set to tackle the Group 2 KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes, while he will be on board Gregarina in the Solonaway Stakes and dual Listed winner Thunder Roll in the Group 3 TonyBet 'We're Here To Play' Stakes, both for Joseph O'Brien.

The jockey said: "Bernard Shaw was impressive when winning his maiden at Dundalk and I'm very happy to get the ride on him. Thunder Roll is a very consistent filly. I'm hoping the ground stays as it is for her and she'd hopefully have a good each-way chance.

"Gregarina won well on her Irish debut at the Curragh and ran well when fourth in the Minstrel Stakes on her last start. She seems to be a filly that handles an ease in the ground, so she wouldn't want it getting too firm."

Read more: 

Confirmed runners and riders for the Irish Champion Stakes - plus a tip and free bet 

Oisin Murphy and William Buick to miss St Leger for Canada trip - but Curragh Group 1 rides have them making rapid return 

'The 11-1 available seems very generous indeed' - David Jennings bids to follow up his 25-1 winner last Saturday  

Looking for free bets? Racing Post have got the best offers, all in one place. Visit racingpost.com/freebets to find out more.