Irish Champions Festival is the showcase of the Irish Flat season.
It is one of the leading international flat racing festivals, now in its 13th year, this special event is run over two days at two of Ireland’s leading racecourses, Leopardstown on the 12th of September and The Curragh on the 13th of September 2026.
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Irish Champions Festival kicks off with a prestigious nine-race card featuring five Group races including the Ireland’s premier middle-distance race and one of the most prestigious contests in the global Flat racing calendar, the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes has crowned some of the sport’s greatest champions.
This race has become a leading global contest in recent years, providing some top quality contests. In 2025, the race was won by Delacroix for Aidan O’Brien and Christophe Soumillon, In 2024 the race was won narrowly by Economics for William Haggas and Tom Marquand, In 2023 the winner was Auguste Roding for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore.
Previous winners of the race include house hold names such as Luxembourg, Sadler’s Wells, Dylan Thomas, Sea The Stars, Fantastic Light, So You think, and in more recent years the likes of Golden Horn, Almanzor, Roaring Lion, Magical (2019 & 2020) and The 2021 Horse Of The Year, St. Mark’s Basilica held firm to narrowly take the win in 2021.
The Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes
Here we have undoubtedly one of the best races of the season, The Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes was won in great style by Fallen Angel in 2025 for Karl Burke and James Doyle, In 2024 the winner was Porta Fortuna for Donnacha Aidan O’Brien. In 2023, the race was won by Tahiyra for Dermot Weld and Chris Hayes.
There have been some great winners of the Matron Stakes in pervious years including No Speak Alexander, Hydrangea, Laurens, Iridessa and in 2020, Champers Elysees gave Johnny Murtagh his first Group 1 success as a trainer.
The Golden Fleece Stakes
One of Europe’s most exciting juvenile contests, the Golden Fleece Stakes showcases the next generation of middle-distance stars and has produced winners such as Australia, Auguste Rodin and Green Impact. The 2025 running was won by Benvenuto Cellini. The race has since been upgraded to Group 1 status from 2026.
For last year’s results at Leopardstown, click here.
2026 Running Order
1.40pm Ballylinch Stud Irish EBF Ingabelle Stakes (Listed)
2.15pm The Irish Stallion Farms EBF Sovereign Path Premier Handicap
2.50pm The Golden Fleece Stakes (Group 1) – New for 2026
3:20pm The Kilternan Stakes (Group 3)
3.55pm The Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes (Group 1)
4.25pm The TonyBet Solonaway Stakes (Group 2)
5.00pm The Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes (Group 1)
5:35pm The Irish Stallion Farms EBF Petingo Premier Handicap
6.10pm The HKJC WorldPool Autumn Fillies Premier Handicap
Day Two at The Currasgh
The Curragh Racecourse is home to all five Irish Classic races. There are four Group 1 races on the eight-race card, featuring the Comer Group International Irish St Leger, the final Irish Classic of the season.
Bar One Racing Flying Five and two of the best juvenile races of the year, the Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes and the Moyglare Stud Stakes will also be featured on the day.
Irish Champions Festival will again attract many of the world’s best racehorses, owners, trainers and jockeys.
The Irish St. Leger is the final classic and final Group 1 of flat season in Ireland and has produced some top class winners for many years. Last year, The Irish St. Leger was taken home by Al Riffa for Joseph O’Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle.
In 2024 was won by Kyprios for Aidan O’Biren and Ryan Moore for Kyprios’ second win in this race, having come close second the year prior.
In 2023, Eldar Eldarov for Roger Varian and David Egan take home first place in emphatic style, beating the reigning champion Kyprios.
In 2022, we saw the high class Kyprios complete an unbeaten season for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore as he won his 4th Group 1 of the season, beating English raider Hamish into second place.
Aidan O’Brien and Dermot Weld have had a great record in the Irish St. Leger for many years and have won five of the last six renewals between them, the 2021 renewal was the one that escaped them as Sonnyboyliston gave Johnny Murtagh a first classic as a trainer and a first classic for jockey, Ben Coen. Weld and O’Brien’s success in the race includes some household names such as Vintage Crop and Vinnie Roe for Weld and Yeats and Order Of St George for O’Brien.
For last year’s results at The Curragh, click here.
2026 Running Order
13:45pm Irish Stallion Farms Bold Lad EBF Premier Handicap
14:15pm Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Stakes
14:50pm Moyglare Stud Stakes (Group1)
15:25pm Bar 1 Betting Flying Five Stakes (Group1)
16:00pm Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes (Group1)
16:35pm Comer Group International Irish St Leger (Group1)
17:10pm Moyglare ‘Jewels’ Blanford Stakes (Group2)
17:45pm Irish Stallion Farms Northfields EBF Premier Handicap
