Irish Champion Stakes Day from Leopardstown certainly didn’t disappoint with top-class action across the nine World Pool races on the card.

UK Jockey Tom Marquand stole the show as he rode both Group 1 winners, first shooting clear to register a clear-cut success aboard Porta Fortuna in the Matron Stakes, and then showing great poise to deliver ECONOMICS at just the right time to land the day’s feature, the Irish Champion Stakes.

In doing so the William Haggas-trained colt confirmed himself as a three-year-old of the highest quality, getting the better of a field of international stars including last year’s winner Auguste Rodin and Japanese runner Shin Emperor.

Only a length separated those three at the line in a thrilling finish, and it made the victory a standout for the World Pool Moment of the Day prize.

After the race, groom of Economics, Ricky Hall, picked up the Moment of the Day winner’s cheque for €4,000.

“He needed time to mature [after winning the Dante] as he’s a massive horse. He’s growing into himself now and he’ll be even better next year.”

Hall had a word too for fellow groom Noraiz Khan, who also looks after Economics, but who couldn’t make it to Leopardstown: “He’d love to be here but he couldn’t get across, so I get the honours!”

Hall will now enter the World Pool Moment of the Year competition for the chance to win a VIP trip to Hong Kong next year.

Reflecting on the prize, he added: “It’s brilliant and they’re [World Pool] doing great things for racing.”