French Derby winner Almanzor has won the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown in which Cox Plate placegetter Highland Reel finished seventh.

Almanzor pounced on the outside under Christophe Soumillon after being held up early on to continue a brilliant season for trainer Jean-Claude Rouget.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained Found - second last year to Golden Horn - put in a strong challenge under Frankie Dettori, replacing the injured Seamie Heffernan, but Almanzor had three-quarters of a length to spare on the line.

Ryan Moore's mount Minding, winner of the 1000 Guineas and Oaks and also trained by O'Brien, was 2-3/4 lengths away in third place, having seemingly had every chance once in the clear.

"He's a great horse," Soumillon said.

"It was not easy before the race to think that we were going to win it, because it was a really tough Irish Champion Stakes, but we got lucky that the pace was strong and he was very relaxed at the back.

Rouget said they would mull over options which include the Champions Stakes at Ascot before the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe being run this year at Chantilly.

"He looks to have had quite an easy race, but it's a race, and it was a good one," he said.

"When I saw the field before the race with all these champions I thought 7-1 was a bit too much. But after the race I think the betting was good.

"We'll see now if he goes to Ascot (Champion Stakes) or to Chantilly for the Arc."

William Hill slashed Almanzor to 5-1 from 16-1 for the Arc on October 2. RaceBets went 5-1 from 12-1 and 6-1 from 10-1 about his Ascot chance on October 15.