High hopes for Headman in Irish Champion

Roger Charlton believes the track in Leopardstown will play into the strengths of Headman week when he Gets his Group One Introduction on Saturday in the Qipco Irish Champion Stakes.

By listing a consecutive success in the prize, for Kingman’s son will run to boost his profile that is innovative.
Landing a Group Two at Saint-Cloud in June in his very first start at company, the Khalid Abdullah-owned three-year-old followed up at exactly the identical level when showing a great turn of foot at Deauville on his latest outing.
Charlton – who won the Champion two decades back with Decorated Knight – stated:”It’s a significant jump up in class, however I have been pleased with the horse.
“It is truly the only race to operate in since there aren’t any longer three-year-old-only races and won 2 Group Twos that there is no use giving away weight in another Group Two.
“I don’t think both of the French races satisfied him. I think the course and the fashion of the race will probably suit him better and I feel a quicker surface is what he wants.
“I assume there are also a better rate and they will not go just as they did in France last time out. He’s a long-striding horse and you also do not need to be violating that stride”
Had the race been run to match Headman on his final start, the Beckhampton handler feels his margin of a mind could have been greater.
He added:”It had been quite tactical in France out time and all these things happen in French races.
“Nothing in that race’d actually left the running earlier and we knew there was a lack of speed and that he simply missed the rest just a little bit, that did not assist him.
“I believe for an inexperienced horse he did well to emerge out of where he had been, as the race quickened facing him. If they’d gone quickly from the early race on the previous day he’d have won by several lengths.”
No matter the result in Ireland, the Classic-winning handler is confident Headman will be seen to effect next season.
He explained:”I believe this horse is just one for the future and I’m sure he will keep advancing. I believe he’ll be better next year.
“I wouldn’t need to go farther than a mile and a quarter at the moment, as he has got plenty of rate and is bred for a mile-and-a-quarter horse.”

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