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It all comes down to this.

The showpiece occasion of the flat season in Ireland takes place across the next two action-packed days, with six Group 1s headlining the world-class action at Leopardstown and The Curragh.

Here is all you need to know ahead of the latest instalment of the Irish Champions Festival…

When are the key races?

The first Group 1 of the weekend is Coolmore America "Justify" Matron Stakes, which has a prize fund of €236,000 for the winner and will see horses go to post at 2.45pm.

Dermot Weld’s Tahiyra, successful in the Irish 1,000 Guineas in May, sets off as favourite with Chris Hayes on board but will face stern competition from the likes of stablemate Homeless Songs and Paddy Twomey’s Just Beautiful.

Next up is the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at 3.20pm, with a winner’s purse of €712,500.

Irish Derby victor Auguste Rodin is looking to give Aidan O’Brien a fifth successive triumph – and a record-extending 12^th overall – but will have to get the better of travelling English raider King Of Steel.

The pair were separated by just half a length at the Epsom Derby, with Auguste Rodin coming out on top, and another fascinating renewal looks in prospect here.

Two Group 2s – the KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes (2.15pm) and Dullingham Park Stakes (3.55pm – are also on a mouthwatering card.

Sunday’s feature is the final Classic of the season, the Comer Group International Irish St Leger, which begins at 4.35pm.

Kyprios returns from a lengthy setback to defend his crown on his first appearance of the season and heads the betting, with punters eager to see if he can replicate the form which saw him canter to a 20-length Prix du Cadran outing on last showing in October last year.

Stablemate Emily Dickinson is one of four rivals, along with Jessica Harrington’s Yashin, Joseph O’Brien’s Dawn Rising and Roger Varian’s Eldar Eldarov.

A trio of English raiders – Highfield Princess, Bradsell and Art Power – head the field for Sunday’s opening Group 1, the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Flying Five Stakes (2.55pm), which also features a French-trained entry in Bouttemont.

Aidan O’Brien’s Ylang Ylang is the evens favourite for the Moyglare Stud Stakes (3.25pm) while the same trainer runs City Of Troy in the Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes (4pm), in which Adrian Murray’s Bucanero Fuerte leads the chasing pack.

Frankie Watch

This year’s Irish Champions Festival is the latest leg of Frankie Dettori’s farewell tour, with the legendary jockey in the final year of his glittering career.

He has three rides on Saturday’s card at Leopardstown, starting with Onesto – trained in France by Fabrice Chappet.

He then gets the leg up on Jessica Harrington’s live chance Bold Discovery in the Dullingham Park Stakes before teaming up with Willie Mullins once more on Jackfinbar in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF "Petingo" Handicap.

Where can I watch the races?

Tickets are still available for the 2023 Irish Champions Festival – click here to claim yours.

Those unable to attend can catch the action live on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player, as well as Racing TV.

Keep up with a big weekend of sport

The Irish Champions Weekend is one part of a huge weekend and you can stay across everything at Leopardstown and The Curragh.

Action from the Irish Open golf, as well as Ireland’s opening Rugby World Cup match against Romania, will be shown live on big screens around the racecourse.

Click here for more information.