Keane hoping first Irish Champion Stakes ride can be a winning one on Sottsass

It has been a season of firsts for Colin Keane. A breakthrough Classic success aboard Siskin in the Irish 2,000 Guineas was swiftly followed an Irish Oaks triumph with Even So, and he is hoping to make his first ride in the Irish Champion Stakes a winning one when he teams up with Sottsass on Saturday.

Trained by Jean-Claude Rouget, who knows what it takes to win the Leopardstown showpiece, having managed the feat with Almanzor in 2016, Sottsass boasts solid claims.

Third in last season's Arc, the Siyouni colt is already a Group 1 winner this term having landed the Prix Ganay, and is a general 8-1 chance to provide Keane with a dream first ride in the Irish Champions Weekend feature.

Sottsass: a general 8-1 chance to win the Irish Champion StakesCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

While Keane is wary of what stands in front of him in the shape of short-priced favourite Ghaiyyath, he is quietly confident of a bold showing from the French raider.

He said: "It's my first time riding in the race and to get a ride on a horse as good as Sottsass is only a bonus. I don't think the race will be lacking in pace with Ghaiyyath in there.

"He's a freegoing sort and he makes it a good test and stays going very well. What will get by him will win, but he looks very good. It's hard to fault him. He does it the hard way and is a little bit hard on himself, but he's obviously a horse with a lot of ability the way he can keep going."

Irish Champion Stakes card

He added: "Sottsass has very good form having been third in an Arc and he's already won a Group 1 this year.

"I met Jean-Claude Rouget last weekend in France and we briefly discussed the race. They have been planning an autumn campaign with him, as he likes a bit of ease in the ground, and I'm really looking forward to getting aboard him at Leopardstown. He's a very good ride to have picked up in the race."

Sottsass is not the only big-race spare the former champion has come in for, and he will also partner Champers Elysees for Johnny Murtagh in the Group 1 Matron Stakes earlier on the Leopardstown card.

A winner at Listed and Group 3 level on her last two starts respectively, Champers Elysees is unbeaten at three and is a general 9-1 chance to keep that record intact on Saturday.

Keane said: "We have a full book of rides on Saturday and I'm also looking forward to getting on Champers Elysees in the Matron Stakes. She's been very progressive this year, like a lot of Johnny's horses, and when these fillies start progressing, you don't know when it will stop.

"She's been very impressive in her last two victories and she's a very good ride to have picked up."

More big-race news:

Stradivarius to face five rivals in key Arc trial at Longchamp on Sunday

2020 Pertemps St Leger: the runners, the odds, the verdict

Ghaiyyath to face five in Irish Champion Stakes after Appleby confirms challenge

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