Jim Bolger’s New Approach took the spoils at the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown this weekend.

New Approach was bumped up to race favourite in the absence of Aidan O’Brien’s Duke of Marmalade, who was withdrawn from the race due to the soft ground conditions in Dublin.

The only serious challenge New Approach had to face was from 50-1 long odds outsider Traffic Guard, who pushed him all the way before finishing the race ½ a length behind in second place.

“On his previous run at Newmarket he was a bit too keen because we had to rush a lot of quick work into him in a short space of time,” Bolger said of his group one winner. “There was not really enough pace today and once again, we probably overdid the settling.”

“He was only doing what he had to do and Kevin confirmed that he had bundles in the tank,” Bolger said in reference to the close finish. “It was a nice, easy race for him and he should come out of it well.”

“He’s in the Champion Stakes at Newmarket, he’s in the Arc and he’s also in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. He’ll probably run in two of those three.”