We’re kicking off our 2026 Irish Champions Festival tips by taking a look at Saturday's excellent Leopardstown card , which features a trio of Group One races . The two-year-old Golden Fleece Stakes and the Matron Stakes for fillies and mares form part of the build-up to the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes , one of the most prestigious Flat contests in the world.
Here are our best bets on what promises to be a memorable occasion:
14:45 Tip
14:45 LEOPARDSTOWN – GREEN DREAMER @ 11/2
Aidan O’Brien has won the Golden Fleece Stakes 11 times in the last 16 years, with Australia, Auguste Rodin and last season’s victor Benvenuto Cellini on that roll of honour, so this term’s Ballydoyle favourite Darkness Falls will take some beating . However, Joseph O’Brien’s Green Dreamer has stronger form in the book and appeals as a value alternative.
The son of Churchill made all to win at this course on his second start and followed that up with an eye-catching 25/1 third in Group Two company at the Curragh , where he was doing all of his best work late on, suggesting this step up to nine furlongs is a big plus.
15:55 Tip
15:55 LEOPARDSTOWN – BLUE BOLT @ 5/4
Andrew Balding ’s filly is an outstanding four from four this term and will bid for a Group One hat-trick in the Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes over a mile. Blue Bolt looked an improved performer at four when building on a Goodwood success by landing the Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot in smooth fashion.
She broke her duck at elite level in Newmarket’s Falmouth Stakes and then added the Prix Rothschild at Deauville to her CV, getting the better of reopposing Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Precise on both occasions.
17:00 Tip
17:00 LEOPARDSTOWN – CONSTITUTION RIVER (NAP) @ 13/8
The Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes has thrown up an intriguing rematch between the Juddmonte International one-two-three – and we’re hoping for a different outcome. Constitution River just didn’t seem to get the run of the race when finishing behind Item and Almaqam at York , but with Derby-winning stablemate Lambourn expected to ensure the pace is stronger here than it was that day, Aidan O’Brien’s ace can turn that form around on home soil.
The Wootton Bassett colt had previously been faultless in winning the Dee Stakes at Chester , the French Derby at Chantilly and Sandown’s Eclipse , but O’Brien said of the Knavesmire run: “It was just a bit of a mess really, everything that could go wrong went wrong.” He added: “We always thought the world of this horse, his only blip was the last day and I would be very confident it wasn’t his fault. We’re hoping he’ll leave that run behind him and we’re very happy with him since.”
Irish Champions Festival tips for Saturday
17:00 Constitution River @ 13/8
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