Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Magical with Donnacha O Brien up took the prize in 2019

Magical heads Champion field as she eyes repeat

Magical is among the 16 horses confirmed for the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.

Racing • 12 Oct 20

Magical, centre, with Seamie Heffernan up, races alongside eventual second place and favourite Ghaiyyath (R)

Magical run secures Irish Champion Stakes for O'Brien

Magical got the better of hot favourite Ghaiyyath in a thrilling finish to the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

Racing • 12 Sep 20

There's a big weekend in store at Leopardstown

Leopardstown preview: Tips for Saturday's racing

Brendan Duke runs casts his eye over the runners and the riders ahead of one of the biggest weekends in Irish racing.

Racing • 12 Sep 20

Ghaiyyath and William Buick triumph at York

Big race preview: Irish Champion Stakes

Ghaiyyath is already the odds-on favourite for the feature race at Leopardstown on Longines Irish Champions Weekend, but it's an even shorter price that he will lead the field for much of the trip in the Irish Champion Stakes.

Racing • 11 Sep 20

Ghaiyyath is unbeaten in four runs in 2020

Updated Ghaiyyath heads field of six for Irish Champion

Ghaiyyath will face five rivals in a red-hot renewal of the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday, the first day of Irish Champions Weekend.

Racing • 10 Sep 20

Ghaiyyath would be a firm favourite if he lines up

Ghaiyyath among 13 still in Irish Champion Stakes

Ghaiyyath is one of 13 possibles at the confirmation stage for Saturday's Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

Racing • 08 Sep 20

Moore happy to quarantine for 'best racing in Europe'

Ballydoyle retained rider Ryan Moore is more than willing to make the sacrifice of 14 days quarantine to take part in the upcoming Irish Champions Weekend, believing the meeting to be the best two days of racing in Europe.

Racing • 01 Sep 20

Naas did stage a meeting before racing was suspended at the end of March

Naas to host racing resumption ahead of Guineas meeting

Racing in Ireland will return with a flat meeting behind closed doors at Naas on Monday, 8 June, while the Irish 2000 and 1000 Guineas will take place on the first weekend back at the Curragh.

Racing • 17 May 20

Magical day for O'Brien with 1-2-3 in Champion Stakes

Magical landed a gamble to provide Aidan O'Brien with a remarkable 1-2-3 in in the QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes at a sun-baked Leopardstown on day one of Longines Irish Champions Weekend.

Racing • 14 Sep 19

The ill-fated Roaring Lion mowed down Saxon Warrior in the dying strides of last season's Irish Champion Stakes

Irish Champions Weekend tips: Day One

Brendan Duke marks your card for the opening afternoon of action on Irish Champions Weekend, where the Qipco Irish Champion Stakes is the feature race at Leopardstown.

Racing • 14 Sep 19

Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore have teamed up to win the last two editions of Britain's oldest Classic

O'Brien focus on Leger logistics rather than Logician

Aidan O'Brien has suggested Ryan Moore could stay in Britain to partner Sir Dragonet in a bid to overturn short-priced favourite Logician in the William Hill St Leger at Doncaster on Saturday week, on what will be a busy afternoon on both sides of the Irish Sea for the Ballydoyle team.

Aidan OBrien • 04 Sep 19

Kevin Prendergast was left scratching his head after Madhmoon's derby display

Madhmoon to drop in trip after Derby disappointment

Kevin Prendergast's Madhmoon is set to drop in trip after a mid-season break.

Racing • 03 Jul 19

Joel Rosario rides Accelerate to victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic

Accelerate claims local win in Breeders' Cup Classic

Accelerate justified strong American expectations to win the Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs.

Racing • 03 Nov 18

Cracksman, Enable and Masar entered in Champion Stakes

Cracksman, Enable and Masar are all among 56 entries for the Qipco Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on 15 September.

Racing • 04 Jun 18

Murtagh gives his Champions Weekend tips

Trainer and legendary jockey Johnny Murtagh has said this weekend is Irish flat racing's All-Ireland final.

Racing • 08 Sep 17

Aidan O'Brien star declared for Irish Champion Stakes

Aidan O'Brien's Churchill is the star attraction in a 10-strong field declared for the Qipco Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday.

Racing • 07 Sep 17

Frankie Dettori looks set to go in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown

Eminent and Dettori set to go in Irish Champion Stakes

Martyn Meade is ready to let Eminent take his chance in the Qipco Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday, with Frankie Dettori set to take the ride.

Racing • 05 Sep 17

Kitasan Black won the Osaka Hai in April

Japanese star Kitasan Black aimed at Leopardstown

Japanese Grade One winner Kitasan Black is among the entries for the Qipco Irish Champion Stakes at the Leopardstown on 9 September.

Racing • 01 Jun 17

Almanzor won last year's Irish Champion Champion Stakes

Qipco extends Irish Champions Stakes sponsorship

Qipco has extended its sponsorship of the Irish Champion Champion Stakes for three more years.

Racing • 31 Jan 17

French raider Almanzor wins Irish Champion Stakes

Almanzor proved himself a champion as the French Derby winner got the better of Found in a stirring finish to land a vintage renewal of the Group 1 Qipco Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

Racing • 10 Sep 16

The versatile Minding has won four of her five Group One assignments this season over distances ranging from a mile to a mile and a half

Harzand & Minding to meet in Irish Champion Stakes

Dual Derby winner Harzand and brilliant filly Minding star in a final field of 13 runners for the QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday.

Racing • 08 Sep 16

Minding will 'run in either the Matron or the Champion Stakes'

O'Brien: Champion Stakes very possible for Minding

Aidan O'Brien revealed there is a good chance Minding will take on the colts and classy older horses in the Qipco Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday week.

Racing • 31 Aug 16

Hawkbill (near side) will compete in the Qipco Irish Champion Stakes

Hawkbill added to Irish Champion Stakes field

Coral-Eclipse hero Hawkbill and French Derby winner Almanzor have been added to the Qipco Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on September 10 following the second entry stage.

Racing • 04 Aug 16

Golden Horn wins Irish Champion Stakes

Golden Horn, trained by John Gosden and ridden by Frankie Dettori, has won the Qipco Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

Racing • 12 Sep 15

Golden Horn lost his unbeaten record when beaten in the Juddmonte International at York

Golden Horn and Gleneagles set for Irish Champion

Classic heroes Golden Horn and Gleneagles star among nine horses confirmed for a mouthwatering renewal of the Qipco Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday.

Racing • 08 Sep 15