As is often the case with big races with small fields, great value in the betting markets is tough to find, and that includes the 2025 Irish Champion Stakes.
Scheduled to take place at Leopardstown racecourse on Saturday, 13 September at 5.30 pm, Aidan O’Brien’s Delacroix leads a field of just eight runners, all battling it out for their share of the €1 million prize purse.
Ireland’s flagship Group 1 race, run over ten furlongs, attracts a high-class international field and often serves as a stepping stone to the Arc, Breeders’ Cup, or major autumn contests.
While punters often focus on headline acts like Delacroix and Anmaat, recent renewals have shown that talented outsiders, particularly progressive three-year-olds or seasoned campaigners, can out-run their odds and throw up a memorable result.
For the 2025 running, Zahrann, Hotazhell, and Mount Kilimanjaro offer intriguing profiles for those seeking each-way value and the possibility of an upset.
Here’s an in-depth look at each, weighing recent form, staying power, and connections, with an eye toward answering whether this year’s race might produce another shock.
Zahrann
On odds of around 6/1, Zahrann enters the Irish Champion Stakes off the back of a swift, progressive campaign that has seen the Johnny Murtagh-trained colt rise rapidly through the ranks.
Bred by Aga Khan Studs, he’s by Night Of Thunder out of the Group 3-winning mare Zannda, and his pedigree screams both stamina and class.
After finishing a head second on debut at Navan, Zahrann announced his arrival with a seven-length defeat of modest opposition at Cork, before powering home to take the Listed King George V Cup at Leopardstown in June.
Trainer Johnny Murtagh was bullish early about Zahrann’s potential, likening him to stable star Calandagan; the plan has been to take each big step as it comes.
In his Group 2 appearance, in the King Edward IV Stakes at Ascot, he found only Amiloc too good, running bravely on quick ground.
Importantly, Zahrann’s most recent win in the Royal Whip Stakes at the Curragh came against older Group 1 performers, including Los Angeles, showing both tactical versatility and a strong finishing kick.
His connections made it clear that the Irish Champion is his acid test, and Ben Coen, his regular jockey, has spoken openly about Zahrann being his best chance at Group 1 glory.
While a first foray at this elite level brings uncertainties, Zahrann’s strong run style, ability to quicken, and proven form over course and distance all make him a viable each-way option.
He may have to improve again to beat older horses and the best of his generation, but his upward trajectory and recent results suggest he’s a genuine contender to make a “big splash” against the favourites.
Hotazhell
Hotazhell represents the Jessica Harrington yard, a stable better known for its success over hurdles but increasingly effective with flat stakes runners.
A son of Too Darn Hot, Hotazhell finished third in the Irish 2000 Guineas, fifth in the Eclipse, and then fourth in a Grade One at Saratoga, a campaign that reveals both potential and frustration.
His best effort arguably came last season in the Doncaster Futurity Trophy, where he narrowly beat Delacroix, form now looking increasingly strong.
However, this season hasn’t all been plain sailing. Connections have declared him for a series of Group-class assignments but had to withdraw more than once, usually due to unsuitable ground or fitness doubts.
When he does run, Hotazhell’s record shows consistent effort and the will to compete, in particular, his ability to stay the trip and dig deep in tightly contested finishes.
Jessica Harrington’s strike-rate at this time of year has picked up after a slow start to the season, and the team is optimistic that a return to the horse’s best form could see him sneak into the places.
The negatives are clear. He remains unproven beyond a mile and may require racing room and tactical luck to show his true colours.
But so long as the conditions are fair and Hotazhell recovers peak sharpness, he stands as a lively each-way bet at current odds of around 16/1, especially given how he has already mixed it with most of this field at one point or another.
Mount Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro is the rank outsider of this year’s Irish Champion, saddled with the longest odds (80/1 from 125/1 with Betfred), despite the most prominent of connections.
Trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Ronan Whelan, Mount Kilimanjaro’s campaign has so far been workmanlike rather than spectacular.
He won as a juvenile but was mostly campaigned in lesser company until stepping up to finish sixth in his most recent pattern race.
His official rating is low compared with the leading contenders, and he often looks outpaced at this level, needing a searching gallop and perhaps cut in the ground to bring his stamina into play.
Mount Kilimanjaro’s best hope lies in a strongly run event where a late surge can pick off tiring rivals.
O’Brien has pulled off upsets with outsiders before, usually by getting them into the right position to capitalise.
His form figures suggest vulnerability but also resilience, and connections may have chosen Leopardstown in the hope of seeing the horse progress into a genuine Group performer by season’s end.
Still, his lack of a marquee win, patchy finishing speed, and the step up in grade are significant negatives, even if O’Brien’s record with lightly-regarded big-race runners offers some encouragement against writing him off entirely.
A Difficult Race
While each horse brings particular strengths to the table, the broader issue for outsiders in the Irish Champion Stakes is whether the race’s pace, competition, and race conditions allow them to get a foothold.
Historically, Leopardstown’s turning track and competitive fields occasionally enable horses to come from off the pace, exploit tactical errors, or simply rise to a new level when the Group 1 spotlight is brightest.
The presence of international and older rivals adds another layer of complexity, meaning proven performers must be watched closely, but the chances for lightly-raced improvers remain real—especially if any favourite doesn’t fire.
It’s not unusual for an Irish Champion Stakes field to throw up shocks. In previous years, horses with lesser form on paper have managed to land a blow thanks to closer scrutiny of progressive runs, astute trainer placement, and subtle improvements in race fitness between trial and the big day.
Zahrann, Hotazhell, and Mount Kilimanjaro all fit this profile to differing degrees, with Zahrann best placed to stake his claim as a future star, Hotazhell an experienced battler ready for a breakthrough, and Mount Kilimanjaro a wild-card who could outperform his odds in the right scenario.
Outsider Options
For punters, weighing each-way and outsider options at the Irish Champion Stakes means considering recent form, trainer optimism, and whether a rapid progression is possible.
Zahrann leads the way for those seeking a horse on the up, with form in stakes company and strong trainer confidence suggesting he could make the leap.
Hotazhell remains something of a “what if”, capable but needing all race elements to fall into place.
Mount Kilimanjaro requires a leap of faith but comes from a stable that excels at preparing outsiders for big occasions.
The perfect storm of pace, positioning, and improvement could yet see one of these defy expectation and ensure the story of the 2025 Irish Champion Stakes is not just about favourites.
BETFRED
