17:00 Leopardstown (IRE) 12 Sep 2026
Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes
Group 1 | Class 1 | 3YO plus
Winner €725,001 - 8 ran
mid-division, 5th halfway, pushed along and switched right under 2f out, ridden and edged left to go 2nd 1f out, soon edged left again and led inside final 100 yards, just held on
held up towards rear, pushed along entering straight, 7th and ridden over 1f out, went 3rd 100 yards out and kept on well, just failed
tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, pushed along and headway to lead over 1f out, soon ridden and edged left, headed inside final 100 yards, no extra
slowly into stride and pushed along early, tracked leaders and 4th halfway, pushed along early straight, 6th and ridden over 1f out, kept on one pace inside final 150 yards
held up towards rear, headway early straight, pushed along and progress between horses to go 3rd 1f out, soon hampered, no extra
rear of mid-division, 6th halfway, pushed along approaching straight, ridden and no impression in rear 1 1/2f out, kept on one pace inside final furlong
tracked leader and 2nd halfway, pushed along and headway to challenge under 2f out, 4th and hampered early final furlong, no extra
pushed along early and soon led, 2 lengths clear halfway, pushed along approaching straight, ridden and headed over 1f out, 5th and badly hampered early final furlong, weakened
Betting returns
| Type | Winnings |
|---|---|
| CSF | €1,060.02 (2, 4) |
| Tricast | €3,826.02 (2, 4, 6) |
| Win | €51.00 (2) |
| Place | €6.30 (2), €5.10 (4), €1.01 (6) |
| Swinger | €23.35 (2, 4), €12.55 (2, 6), €8.45 (4, 6) |
| Exacta | €429.40 (2, 4) |
| Trifecta | €1,217.00 (2, 4, 6) |
Expert Analysis
The biggest Flat race of the Irish season produced a shock result, the German Group 1 form from the Bayerisches Zuchtrennen at Munich trumping the Juddmonte International, none of the first three horses from York at their best and perhaps feeling a tough race there. The pace was strong from the outset as two Ballydoyle pacemakers forced the gallop.
HOTAZHELL landed a second Group 1 in a row, but had things go his way, the obvious form choices underperforming and the runner-up meeting trouble at vital stages, while he himself hampered a dangerous-looking rival in the closing stages that ended its chance. He does handle bad ground well which is a positive if heading to Ascot for the Champion Stakes next.
WIMBLEDON HAWKEYE had finished third to the winner at Munich in July but had to come from further back than ideal, and it was a similar story here as he met trouble both on the turn in and early in the straight before finishing well. He looked an unlucky loser and has taken a step forward since joining this yard.
CONSTITUTION RIVER reversed York form with Almaqam and Item but was not quite at his best in coming up short. He took a keen hold but travelled nicely to lead in the straight but soon started to hang markedly left, something his rider reported he was doing throughout the race. This run came during a meeting when most of the Ballydoyle three-year-olds underperformed.
ALMAQAM perhaps found this coming too soon after York and was not at his best, running on under pressure in the straight without ever looking like winning.
A BOY NAMED SUSIE looked to have a place chance at least when badly hampered by the winner in the straight, still travelling well at the time. He seems likely to come up short in this company so this is an opportunity missed but he is a likeable and consistent sort that can travel for easier opportunities.
ITEM underperformed, likely not over a hard-fought win at York, while this track with a shorter straight did not play to his strengths.
HAWK MOUNTAIN was again used to force the pace and should have finished a little closer, hampered in the closing stages.
LAMBOURN acted as a pacemaker for his better fancied stablemate.
Video Highlights
-
Replay: 17:00 Leopardstown 12th Sep 2026
Previous winners
| Year | Going | Ran | Winner | Draw | Age | Weight | OR | Form | Last run | Trainer (Distance) | Jockey | SP | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Good - Yielding | 8 | Delacroix | 8 | 3 | 9 3 | - | 2-11912 | 24 days | A P O'Brien (119 miles) | Christophe Soumillon | 2/ 1 | 2:04.69 |
| 2024 | Good | 8 | Economics | 8 | 3 | 9 3 | - | 4-111 | 30 days | W J Haggas | Tom Marquand | 7/ 4 | 2:03.20 |
| 2023 | Good | 8 | Auguste Rodin | 2 | 3 | 9 3 | - | 11-0110 | 42 days | A P O'Brien (119 miles) | Ryan Moore | 11/ 4 | 2:02.68 |
| 2022 | Soft | 7 | Luxembourg | 6 | 3 | 9 3 | - | 111-31 | 28 days | A P O'Brien (119 miles) | Ryan Moore | 7/ 2 | 2:12.10 |
| 2021 | Good | 4 | St Mark's Basilica | 4 | 3 | 9 3 | - | 131-111 | 70 days | A P O'Brien (119 miles) | Ryan Moore | 5/ 6 | 2:11.19 |
| 2020 | Good | 6 | Magical | 5 | 5 | 9 6 | - | 151-112 | 24 days | A P O'Brien (119 miles) | Seamie Heffernan | 9/ 2 | 2:05.80 |
| 2019 | Good | 8 | Magical | 3 | 4 | 9 4 | - | 111222 | 23 days | A P O'Brien (119 miles) | Ryan Moore | 11/ 10 | 2:06.49 |
| 2018 | Good to Firm | 7 | Roaring Lion | 8 | 3 | 9 1 | - | 351311 | 24 days | J & T Gosden | Oisin Murphy | 8/ 11 | 2:07.21 |
| 2017 | Good | 10 | Decorated Knight | 10 | 5 | 9 7 | - | 161265 | 17 days | H & R Charlton | Andrea Atzeni | 25/ 1 | 2:08.36 |
| 2016 | Yielding | 12 | Almanzor | 10 | 3 | 9 0 | - | 17-3111 | 26 days | J C Rouget | Christophe Soumillon | 7/ 1 | 2:08.93 |
| 2015 | Yielding | 7 | Golden Horn | 1 | 3 | 9 0 | - | 1-11112 | 24 days | J & T Gosden | Frankie Dettori | 5/ 4 | 2:05.41 |
| 2014 | Good to Firm | 7 | The Grey Gatsby | 2 | 3 | 9 0 | - | 201162 | 24 days | K A Ryan | Ryan Moore | 7/ 1 | 2:03.18 |
| 2013 | Good | 6 | The Fugue | 8 | 4 | 9 4 | - | 123-371 | 16 days | J & T Gosden | William Buick | 4/ 1 | 2:05.22 |
| 2012 | Good | 6 | Snow Fairy | 3 | 5 | 9 4 | - | 22331-D | 20 days | E A L Dunlop | Frankie Dettori | 15/ 8 | 2:00.92 |
| 2011 | Good | 6 | So You Think | 3 | 5 | 9 7 | - | 13-1121 | 63 days | A P O'Brien (119 miles) | Seamie Heffernan | 1/ 4 | 2:04.20 |
| 2010 | Good to Firm | 6 | Cape Blanco | 1 | 3 | 9 0 | - | 11-1012 | 42 days | A P O'Brien (119 miles) | Seamie Heffernan | 6/ 1 | 2:03.89 |
| 2009 | Yielding | 9 | Sea The Stars | 2 | 3 | 9 0 | - | 11-1111 | 18 days | J M Oxx (38 miles) | Mick Kinane | 4/ 6 | 2:03.90 |
| 2008 | Soft | 8 | New Approach | 5 | 3 | 9 0 | - | 11-2213 | 15 days | J S Bolger (56 miles) | Kevin Manning | 8/ 13 | 2:07.57 |
| 2007 | Good to Firm | 6 | Dylan Thomas | 5 | 4 | 9 7 | - | 112212 | 18 days | A P O'Brien (119 miles) | Kieren Fallon | 8/ 15 | 2:02.27 |
| 2006 | Good to Firm | 6 | Dylan Thomas | 2 | 3 | 9 0 | - | 26-1314 | 18 days | A P O'Brien (119 miles) | Kieren Fallon | 13/ 8 | 2:02.95 |
