His training base on the edge of the village of Golden in west Tipperary is bathed in autumnal colours at this time of year, but at this time of year Paddy Twomey doesn't have much time to take in the scenery.

In the closing stages of a campaign which saw this trainer record his first Group 1 success, courtesy of La Petite Coco in the Pretty Polly Stakes at The Curragh back in early summer, he's looking forwards and anticipating further black type in the coming weeks and months.

That could well continue this weekend, Longines Champions Weekend, at Leopardstown and the Curragh, when Twomey has more than a few lively contenders across the star-stacked cards.

In the decade since Champions Weekend was born and during which it's already become one of the pinnacles of the European flat calendar, the big races, the group prizes, have gone to the top stables from both home and abroad and few are the top trainers who haven't yet tasted success at its table.

Trainer Paddy Twomey will be eyeing success at Longines Champions Weekend

But there's also room for the up-and-coming yards, those whose names may not trip off the tongue of the armchair sports fan but who have earned their places at such fixtures.

"It was fantastic," Twomey says of that day when La Petite Coco won at the top level for his stable's first time. "It was a great day, she's a top filly and it's great that she won her group one. It was a memorable day."

Asked what such a race meant for such a yard, he answers: "Ah look it's huge, it's hard to compete in Ireland, it's hard to compete group one level anywhere and to have horses able to compete at that level on the big stage, it's great for morale and great for everybody here."

Could there be more success on the way?

"Hopefully. We've a great team of horses, they've ran well all year and looking forward to Irish Champions Weekend."

La Petite Coco might be taking a step back in class, lining up in Sunday's Moyglare "Jewels" Blandford Stakes alongside stablemate Rumbles of Thunder, among others, and she'll likely start favourite in this group two fixture, but there are others from the Twomey yard dotted throughout the weekend's top races.

Erosandpsyche takes his chance in the group 1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Flying Five, also on Sunday, while Shelton starts in the group 1 Moyglare Stud against some of the year's top two-year-old fillies.

Meanwhile, Rosscarbery will be aiming to give this set-up their first classic win when she takes on all-comers in the Comer Group International Irish St Leger.

Saturday sees Pearls Galore in the ultra-competitive Matron Stakes, when Dermot Weld's brilliant Homeless Songs will be the market fancy, while Ebor Handicap third Earl of Tyrone is widely fancied in the group 3 Paddy Power Stakes and Just Beautiful has a strong chance in the group 2 Boomerang Stakes.

"We've a good cross-section of horses," the trainer says. "They've been running very well all year and I'd be hoping that they'd ride big races."

Many of those mentioned will be partnered by Billy Lee, currently engaged in a toe-to-toe tussle with Colin Keane for the Irish Jockeys' Championship, which still has some way to go.

Looking forward to a decent book of rides over the course of Longines Champions Weekend, Lee says he's taking any talk of the championship day by day.

"It's been a great year but we've still a good two months left. It would be great if I could do it but if not I'll look back on a very successful year. It's day to day at the moment and we'll just keep tipping away."

The yards he's ridden for this term, "are all in great form," he says.

"Paddy's horses have been in great form all year and been running well and kept it going. He's a trainer on the rise and that's helped me in a big way."

For his part, the trainer describes the jockey as "a world-class rider" who gets better with every year.

"Hopefully he can give the championship a good rattle, he's deserving of it and a top rider."

Watch live coverage of Irish Champions Weekend from Leopardstown on Saturday on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player from 2.30pm and from the Curragh on Sunday on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player from 1.30pm.