ALL sports thrive on finding a champion, the top dog. And then need a worthy challenger to build the anticipation of a rematch. We have a rematch to grab the attention at Leopardstown in the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes.

Those of us of a ‘90s vintage have memories of Dr Devious and St Jovite in their third decider, more recently of Galileo and Fantastic Light in the early 2000s before Roaring Lion confirmed his Eclipse superiority over Saxon Warrior in a thriller five years ago.

Three-year-old colts have won the big race in 13 of the 23 runnings this century which is a fine return as there were a few years to factor in when none of the top three-year-olds lined up. Recital (14/1) was the best the classic division could offer when So You Think beat Snow Fairy in 2011 and it was similar a year later when the filly won it with only Born To Sea at 12/1 heading the three-year-olds.

Another point to note is that no horse has broken his Group 1 duck in this race since 1995. By this stage of the season, you expect the cream to have risen to the top and a genuine contender here should be looking for a second Group 1 win, in a race that traditionally ranks among the top rated in the world rankings, by virtue of the quality of the field.

Stands up

King Of Steel’s half-length second in the Derby and third in the King George, with a King Edward Stakes win in between, stands up well and indeed compares to Pentire, winner back in 1995, who had missed the Derby but added a Great Voltigeur at York to his King Edward Royal Ascot win and King George second to that season’s Derby winner Lammtarra.

It was this race back in 2015 that gave stallion Wootton Bassett his biggest winner (Almanzor) and launched him into to the big time as a sire. And with Verglas as his damsire, King Of Steel should be better over 10 furlongs than 12, even if he easily beat the subsequent Voltigeur winner at Ascot over 12.

The King George is the big black mark on Auguste Rodin. Whatever way you look at it, he just cut out that day, and before the pressure came on, at least five furlongs from home. And it wasn’t as if Ryan Moore pulled him up, Moore began riding the horse and gave him a crack to respond but the horse just got slower.

You could forgive him the Guineas run, last minute disrupted travel plans, the over night stay, horrible ground, running into Little Big Bear’s rear early on.

But the Ascot excuses, a bout of air travel sickness? It’s hard to accept it as the sole reason for such a poor run. Horses have come back from very disappointing runs in Group 1s before, but the excuses were more acceptable - bad ground, not staying a longer trip, getting upset beforehand. None really applied to the dual Derby winner at Ascot.

Could it be the modern 21st century three-year-old can’t cope with a Derby, Derby, King George summer as they did in Galileo’s time?

All sports thrive on these rematches and, as well as the equine head-to-head, we have a tactical battle between Ryan Moore and Kevin Stott as both their horses drop back in distance, but over a track which is home ground to Moore. Trouble in running has featured in this race before too but Point Lonsdale should ensure a good pace.

Accepting that Auguste Rodin is a much desired stallion prospect, putting him to the sword again should mean that all the boxes have been ticked and the trip up from Ballydoyle, the going and the opposition should not stop him adding to his potential. It will be interesting to see who goes off favourite.

Matron too easy?

The Matron Stakes revolves around Tahiyra. She looks in a different class than the field assembled here.

Prosperous Voyage and Meditate are the only other Group 1 winners in the field and those wins were all last season. Having backed Meditate three times to beat Tahiyra this season, it would seem foolish to expect it to be fifth time lucky for the O’Brien filly in their head-to-head, albeit Meditate has had a break and received positive reports from the stable. She too has to recover from being beaten over 12 lengths on soft going in the Prix Jean Prat.

It would be great to hail a brilliant filly but ... would fast ground inconvenience Tahiyra? Looking for more question marks, she has yet to run left-handed and only once encountered fast conditions. Thirteen is a big field for a round track mile contest.

It’s worth noting that for a Group 1, big-priced horses have been successful here. The last four winners, Iridessa, Champers Elysees, No Speak Alexander and Pearls Galore have started at 10/1 (beat the evens favourite), 9/1, 25/1 (beat a 6/5 favourite) and 16/1 (beat the 5/4 favourite). Alpha Centauri was also beaten at odds-on in 2018.

Paddy Twomey and Ger Lyons fully target this meeting and Just Beautiful and Zarinsk should not be dismissed lightly, in case the favourite bombs out.

THIS Champions Festival weekend represents a full circle for the sire Wootton Bassett.

It was here in 2016 that his son Almanzor won the Irish Champion Stakes, one of three Group 1s that season that brought him the European champion three-year-old title.

Wootton Bassett’s then first crop of just 23 foals included that classic winner and came from €6,000 fees. This weekend he has one of the favourites for the Royal Bahrain Champions Stakes in King Of Steel and his Group 1-winning Bucanero Feste takes on City Of Troy in the National Stales. Now standing for €150,000 under the Coolmore banner, it is quite a progression.