Horse Racing
White Birch To Miss Irish Champion Stakes and Rest Of The Season With Injury
Andy is a horse racing journalist and betting expert who specializes in trends and stats. With his long association with TrainersQuotes and FromTheStables, Andy has also built up solid contacts with some of the best stables in the UK. Has written for GeeGeez and bookmakers Matchbook and BetBright in the past too, plus was the former sports betting editor of odds comparison site Easyodds and Juicestorm. Has also appeared on betting podcasts for MatchBook and has featured in the popular Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Guide in the past. Andy's also ghost written for former top jockey Richard Dunwoody and continues to have a monthly column in the Racing Ahead horse racing magazine. Now a regular on Sportscasting giving his views, trends and tips mainly on horse racing - if there's a stat to be explored and it's a sport, Andy is sure to find a betting angle to use.
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Leading Irish-trained racehorse White Birch will unfortunately miss the rest of the season – including the Irish Champion Stakes – after sustaining an injury to his leg.
White Birch Ruled Out Of The Season With Leg Injury
The entries for the 2024 Irish Champions Stakes on Saturday 14th September were dealt a blow with the news the popular grey White Birch will miss one of the biggest horse racing contests left this term.
This John Joseph Murphy-trained 4 year-old picked up an injury to his hock in training and as a result will now not run again this season.
The son of Ulysses was having a top campaign – winning all three starts in 2024 – including lowering the colours of 2023 Epsom Derby hero Auguste Rodin in the Group One Tattersalls Gold Cup back in May (watch below).
Prior to that 3-length win at the Curragh, the top-class middle distance horse picked up two other course wins this year, when winning the Mooresbridge Stakes and Alleged Stakes and was one of the leading chances to add to those wins in the Irish Champion Stakes this month.
At the time of his injury, White Birch, only had two horses – Auguste Rodin and Economics – in front of him in the market for the big Leopardstown contest.
George Murphy (son of trainer John) told the Racing Post
“Unfortunately it looks like White Birch will miss the rest of the season,”
“He strained a near hock and the advice is he will be off for three to four weeks which won’t give us time to get back going for his plan for the rest of the season. We’re looking forward to him returning to the track next season.”
White Birch Expected To Be Back Next Season
Despite winning three times this season, connections have had a frustrating time this summer with White Birth as he was also due to run in the Coral-Eclipse in July due to his bloods not being 100%.
With White Birch now out of the Irish Champion Stakes 2024, this now sees the William Haggas-trained Economics firm up at the bead of the market with the best horse racing betting sites in the UK.
White Birch also held entries for the Prix de l’ Arc de Triomphe on October 6th at Longchamp and the British Champion Stakes at Ascot on 19th October – but will miss these races now too.
The better news is that connections are eluding to White Birch still racing on as a 5 year-old next season.
White Birch Career In Numbers
- Age 4
- Runs: 10
- Wins: 5
- Top 3 Finishes: 7
- Group One Wins: 1
- Career Earnings: £593,056