Irish Champions Weekend 2020 Preview: Tips, Odds and Free Bets

One of the biggest weekends of flat action across the UK and Ireland, Irish Champions Weekend brings together the very best horses from a plethora of divisions.

Leopardstown hosts the Saturday, with the feature contest being the Irish Champion Stakes. Sunday moves to the Curragh, where the Irish St Leger headlines the meeting with the final classic of the season.

With the best of the best vying for the biggest prizes, there’s plenty to be excited about!

How to watch the Irish Champions Weekend

Irish Champions Weekend will be staged behind closed doors, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. That doesn’t mean you’ll be missing the action, however, as there a are a multitude of ways to watch!

RacingTV will be broadcasting every race from both days of the meeting as a part of their standard Irish coverage. ITV will be staging some of the action on the channel too, with the Irish Champion Stakes on Saturday and all the group action on ITV3 on Sunday!

If you’re having a bet on the racing, you’ll likely be able to watch the action through your bookmaker too. Most bookies will offer streaming services based on having either a bet on the race or money in your account, so take advantage.

Irish Champions Weekend Races

Irish Champion Stakes Day – Saturday 12th September

A bumper eight-race card at Leopardstown with five valuable group races including two Group 1 races. The feature race, the Irish Champion Stakes, has been won by some of the best including Magical, Roaring Lion and Golden Horn in recent years.

2:00 – Ballylinch Stud EBF Ingabelle Stakes (Listed)
2:35 – Irish Stallions Farms EBF ‘Petingo’ Premier Handicap
3:10 – Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes (Group 1)
3:40 – KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes (Group 2)
4:10 – Irish Champion Stakes (Group 1)
4:45 – Clipper Logistics Boomerang Mile (Group 2)
5:15 – Kilternan Stakes (Group 3)
5:50 – Irish Stallions Farms EBF ‘Sovereign Path’ Premier Handicap

Irish St Leger Day – Sunday 13th September

The Curragh stages the action on Sunday, with four Group 1 races being flanked by the Group 2 Blanford Stakes and Northfields Premier Handicap. Search For A Song bids to go back to back in the Irish St Leger, while Master Of The Seas clashes with Battleground and Lucky Vega in the National Stakes.

2:00 – “Bold Lad” Sprint Handicap (Premier Handicap)
2:35 – Moyglare “Jewels” Blandford Stakes (Group 2)
3:10 – Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes (Group 1)
3:40 – Moyglare Stud Stakes (Group 1)
4:10 – Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes (Group 1)
4:45 – Comer Group International Irish St. Leger (Group 1)
5:15 – Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sale Stakes
5:50 – Irish Stallions Farms EBF “Northfields” Premier Handicap

Click here to see our Irish St Leger Preview.

Irish Champions Weekend Tips

Saturday

Irish Champion Stakes

He’s been simply imperious in 2020 and Ghaiyyath can continue his dominant march with another Group 1 success. He never looked in danger when brushing off Magical to win the Juddemonte International and sets a daunting form standard.

Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes

Unbeaten in three starts this term, Champers Elysees has been highly progressive and was a comfortable Group 3 winner at Gowran last time. Stepping up to the mile should unlock further improvement and there’s plenty to like.

Sunday

Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes

Glass Slippers ended last season with a Group 1 victory in France on Arc day, running well in the face of Battaash in two starts this season. Doesn’t have that obstacle in her way this time and her best form sets the standard in this field for Kevin Ryan.

Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes

Winning both his starts since debut, Battleground has a lofty reputation to uphold. He was impressive when landing the Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood and remains completely unexposed for top connections. The best should be yet to come.

Comer Group International Irish St Leger Stakes

Winning this race twelve months ago, Search For A Song is yet to race at the fourteen-furlong distance since. She’s been crying out for it this term and was an eye-catching closer behind Magical on her latest outing. More to offer as a stayer and will prove difficult to beat.

Irish Champions Weekend Free Bets

Get a head start with your bets this weekend by signing up to a bookmaker account and claiming a free bet. With an eight-race card at Leopardstown on Saturday and an eight-race card at the Curragh on Sunday, free bets can come in handy, especially with firms competing against one another to offer the best deals. We have handpicked some of the best offers below or you can check out our Free Bets page for more offers.