Swain and Xaar to run

Last year's champion two-year-old Xaar will take on the dual King George VI And Queen Elizabeth hero, Swain, in Saturday's Esat Digifone Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

Grant Pritchard Gordon, racing manager to Xaar's owner Prince Khalid Abdullah, said yesterday: "He is definitely an intended runner at this stage. Only if the ground turns up heavy would he not run, and Olivier Peslier will ride."

Xaar was a brilliant winner of the Dewhurst Stakes, but after landing the Craven Stakes on his reappearance, he finished a disappointing third to King Of Kings in the 2,000 Guineas and was beaten on his only subsequent appearance at Deauville.

The ground at Leopardstown is currently "yielding to soft" and a course spokesman described the weather forecast for the rest of the week as "not too hectic".

Swain will be well suited by cut in the ground and will be partnered by Frankie Dettori, who switches from Doncaster after the announcement that Sea Wave will miss the St Leger. Geoff Wragg's Sasuru, winner of the Prix d'Isphahan last season, will be left in the race but is another who would not like very soft ground. However, the controversial Juddmonte International winner, One So Wonderful, is definitely on target for the race and a spokesperson for Luca Cumani said: "She is an intended runner and Pat Eddery has been booked for the ride."

Tarascon will be one of the leading home-trained runners. Trainer Tommy Stack said: "She worked well this morning and runs, although the ground and the trip may be against her."

Aidan O'Brien has yet to decide which of his team will take part, although the Oaks winner, Shahtoush, is a possible. If she does take part, Michael Kinane is unlikely to be able to ride her as he is being claimed to ride Make No Mistake for Dermot Weld.