Irish Champions Festival: All you need to know
The world-class weekend of flat racing is drawing near
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The Irish Champions Festival takes place on September 14-15
The latest instalment of an event which has become a highlight of the global flat racing calendar returns next weekend.
Held across two days at Leopardstown and the Curragh, the Irish Champions Festival boats world-class racing on the track and a wealth of fun family events off it.
Here’s what to look forward to…
What are the biggest races?
The Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes (Saturday 14th, 3.25pm) and Comer Group International Irish St Leger (Sunday 15th, 4.45pm) are the feature races on each day.
AUGUSTE RODIN rollin' around ahead of next weekend's assignment in the G1 Irish Champion Stakes at @LeopardstownRC, a #WorldPool event. 🥰🇮🇪#ディープインパクト | #競馬 | #アイリッシュダービー pic.twitter.com/1r4Op5ZhST
— World Pool (@WorldPool) September 5, 2024
Both are steeped in history and have been won by some of the sport’s finest names, such as Vinnie Roe, Sea The Stars and Golden Horn.
They are two of six Group 1s across the weekend, with the Coolmore America 'Justify' Matron Stakes on Saturday and the Flying Five Stakes, Moyglare Stud Stakes and Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes all part of Sunday’s card.
Which horses will be there?
Aidan O’Brien is playing a typically strong hand, with Auguste Rodin and Luxembourg set to run in the Irish Champion Stakes and Kyprios favourite for the Irish St Leger, a race he also won in 2022.
Currently heading the betting for the Champion Stakes is Economics, unbeaten in three outings this year and set to make the trip over from Newmarket for William Haggas.
Coming from even further afield in Shin Emperor, a grandson of Galileo trained in Japan by Yoshito Yahagi and set to compete in Saturday’s showpiece.
Giavellotto is entered in the Irish St Leger for Marco Botti while Willie Mullins currently has Vauban and Absurde in the running.
Donnacha O’Brien’s Porta Fortuna, Archie Watson’s Bradsell and George Boughey’s Believing are among those well fancied to perform well in the weekend’s other Group 1.
What else is happening?
There will be plenty going on around the courses at Leopardstown and the Curragh.
On Saturday, there will be a Goffs Champion Sale pre-racing along with a tipster panel to help you mark your cards. After racing, there is a singalong with DJ Mimi Lane before an evening of ska classics courtesy of Complete Madness.
On Sunday, you can experience a different kind of horse power courtesy of an F1 simulator at the Curragh, allowing you to experience the thrill and rush of getting behind the wheel and testing your stopping speeds.
Family fun is also at the heart of the action, with candy floss, face painting, a racing-themed treasure hunt, family fun packs, a horse carousel, a train ride, and more.
How can I follow the action?
Make sure you are following Horse Racing Ireland to stay across all the action on and off the track.
Follow Horse Racing Ireland on X, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
Where can I buy tickets?
Tickets are available here.