Liam Bramall’s guide to Irish Champions Weekend 2025 including two free tips

Irish Champions Weekend is a two-day fixture which takes place this weekend, with the first day hosted by Leopardstown and the Curragh takes over on Day 2. There are no fewer than six Group 1s taking place across the weekend and it’s well supported by Group 2 and handicap action.

Liam Bramall has put together a guide for the big meeting and it includes some free tips. Check out our free tips page for daily content across British and Irish racing.

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Day 1 (Leopardstown)

The main event on Day 1, and arguably of the whole weekend, is the Irish Champion Stakes. It’s a Group 1 contest over 1m2f and its open to three-year-olds and upwards, with a total prize fund of €1,250,000. Aidan O’Brien is the main to follow, having won it five times in a row between 2019 and 2023.

One for the girls, the Matron Stakes is the other Group 1 on the card and it’s run over a mile. There are also three very competitive and valuable handicaps on the card, as well as some lesser Group races. The Group 2 KPMG Champion Juvenile Stakes is one to watch as some smart horses have won it before.

Free tip for Day 1

Delacroix lost his unbeaten record over this trip in a messy renewal of the Juddmonte International but his victory in the Eclipse before that makes him the one to beat. Aidan O’Brien’s colt has already won twice over course and distance, so another big run is anticipated.

Day 2 (Curragh)

The action is taken to the next level on Sunday, with four Group 1 races to look forward to. Probably the most prestigious, the Irish St. Leger is the last one on the card. It differs from the English equivalent, as it’s open to older horses as well as three-year-olds.

Hopefully there will be some future champions on show, as there are two juvenile Group 1s on offer. Two-year-old fillies get their chance to shine in the Moyglare Stud Stakes and the colts’ equivalent is the National Stakes. Speed merchants also get to strut their stuff in the Flying Five Stakes over 5f.

Free tip for Day 2

Saba Desert represents the Charlie Appleby yard and they have won the race three times in the last decade. This horse looked smart when getting the better of Italy in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes in July and he looks more than ready to compete at the top level.

If you back any of our selections you can watch them live on the free Racing Post app or racingpost.com. Simply log in to one of your bookmaker accounts and click ‘Watch live’ on the racecards.

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Place a min £10 bet on Sportsbook on odds of min EVS (2.0), get £50 in Free Bet Builders, Accumulators or multiples to use on any sport. Rewards valid for 30 days. Only deposits via cards or Apple Pay will qualify. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly.

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Bet £10, Get £50 in Free Bet Multiples

Place a min £10 bet on Sportsbook on odds of min EVS (2.0), get £50 in Free Bet Builders, Accumulators or multiples to use on any sport. Rewards valid for 30 days. Only deposits via cards or Apple Pay will qualify. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly.