There was a shock ending to Saturday's G1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes as the unlikely duo Hotazhell (Too Darn Hot) and Wimbledon Hawkeye (Kameko) fought out the finish with the Jessica Harrington runner a nose ahead where it counts.Fourth in this 12 months ago, the 2024 Futurity Trophy winner had taken an unorthodox route back here via Munich's Grosser Dallmayr-Preis in July, where Wimbledon Hawkeye had been just behind in third and against all expectation that was the form that ultimately mattered.Always travelling comfortably in mid-division with Shane Foley getting vital cover, the 50-1 shot was able to swamp the 11-8 favourite Constitution River (Wootton Bassett) inside the final furlong and hit the line in time as George Scott's runner ate into his advantage. Constitution River did best of the leading contenders, 3/4 of a length away in third as the Juddmonte International protagonists Almaqam (Lope De Vega) and Item (Frankel) disappointed in fourth and sixth respectively.Jessica Harrington has achieved a great deal throughout her career in both codes, but this particular landmark rates as one of her most special.“The form is as it was in Germany – everyone said we only scrambled home in that so to do it today was absolutely amazing,” she said. “This is fantastic, you roll the dice and take your chance. He's got better and better this year and these results are hard to come by. We'll go to the Champion Stakes now – that's the aim.” The post Hotazhell Wins Irish Champion Thriller, Constitution River Third appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.