Caroline’s Irish Champions Weekend Selections for Sunday 13th September 2026

Caroline’s Irish Champions Weekend Selections from The Curragh

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Bold Lad Sprint Handicap (Premier Handicap) 1.45
Bear On The Run
Oh yes, I think I’ll be getting a repeat performance from Bear On The Run to win this Sprint Handicap. Daniel Murphy’s Kodi Bear filly did it well here the last day, given plenty of cover by Dylan Browne McMonagle until the race really opened up in the final 2 furlongs. Shane Foley gets the ride here, which is a top class booking in the absence of Dylan, and the 2lb nudge from the Handicapper seems most reasonable to me. I guess Ed Lynam’s Headmaster and Mick Appleby’s Coul Angel would be on my list, but Bear On The Run may still be underestimated in this level of Handicap.

Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sales Stakes 2.15
Star Of State
Well I’m sure of this, Joseph O’Brien’s Star Of State will be expected to be winning this, and her second in the Lowther Stakes at York is a very strong piece of form. It was only the exciting Libertango that she found too good in that Group 2, and maybe this time it will be Robson Aguiar’s Atlantic Bridge that can make the best challenge to this odds on favourite, after a convincing win over 5 furlongs at Navan the last day. I do like Karl Burke’s Mehmas Star as my outsider pick, as the trainer does so well with his youngsters, but Star Of State is hard to oppose.

Moyglare Stud Stakes (Group 1) (Fillies) 2.50
Sun Goddess (nap)
It’s very difficult to go against Aidan O’Brien’s Sun Goddess for this Moyglare Stud Stakes, despite two very good opponents in stablemate Alpha and Green Empress. I’m telling yuzz, her run in the Harry’s Half Million at York has to be one of the rides of the season under Ryan Moore, as he tried three times to funnel her through a field of twenty, before being forced to take the wide route on the near side of the course, but she burst through to win by 6 lengths! Of course, we have to give due respect to Joseph O’Brien’s Green Empress, who won the Debutante Stakes here the last day over course and distance, with Alpha back in third, so this pair will be the ones to make it a proper contest. And, it is Green Empress that has chased home Sun Goddess already twice this year, before the win in the Debutante, so she is edging closer. However, I do think that this step up to 7 furlongs can only bring out more in the speedy Sun Goddess, so she can get upsides of Green Empress for this Fillies Group One.

BAR 1 Betting Flying Five Stakes (Group 1) 3.25
Comanche Brave
It has to be no surprise to see Donnacha O’Brien’s Comanche Brave heading the betting for this Flying Five after his July Cup win at Newmarket the last day. For myself, and for Jaysella, any horse that can beat Karl Burke’s Venetian Sun must be given the utmost respect, so as Comanche Brave has already taken the Greenlands Stakes here in May, I’m finding him very easy to back. For all that, Jonathan Portman’s Rumstar is a 5 furlong specialist, and has been better than ever this summer, winning the Coral Charge at Sandown Park, before a fine half-length second to American Affair in the King George at Goodwood. For me that was backed up again when third in the Nunthorpe at York, when left a bit too much to do, though American raider Bacio had them all running for the place money. Ralph Beckett’s Starlust is also on my list, as he is closely matched with Rumstar in some of those sprints, but Aidan O’Brien’s Mission Central could be a danger back on home soil and makes my each-way value. Comanche Brave to go in, with Rumstar, Mission Central and Starlust not far off.

Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes (Group 1) (No Geldings) 4.00
Giant Sequoia
Well, to be sure it must have been a close call for Ryan Moore to take Giant Sequoia over Haffner for this National Stakes. Ballydoyle’s Number One Jockey scored over this trip in the Acomb at York on Haffner the last day, with a bit to spare to my mind, but couldn’t stay with Dr Rascal in the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood before that over the same trip. Of course, Oliver Cole’s Dr Rascal lines up here unbeaten, and this Sottsass colt is sure to be finding further over time, but has every chance of progressing again. But, Ryan Moore has chosen to take the ride on Giant Sequoia, the winner of the Futurity Stakes here over course and distance the last day, and that Group 2 form looks the line to follow for this Group One. Joseph O’Brien’s Monogram did look a piece of work when bolting up on the outside in a maiden over course and distance the last day, so must join my list of four. But, the Frankel filly Giant Sequoia gets my vote, though another finishing dash like the last from Monogram could spoil my selection, with Dr Rascal also in the mix. A real thriller!!

Comer Group International Irish St. Leger (Group 1) 4.35
Scandinavia (nb)
Oh please, we have the best Stayer in Europe in this Irish St. Leger, and it’s almost impossible to see him not winning this. But of course that is a very cocksure thing to say in horseracing, as we all know but I’m telling yuzz all, Scandinavia is by any measure the best of his generation, and it would be a huge surprise if he didn’t win this. That said, and although hard to believe, he has never run at the Curragh, but that can only be one small point to hold against him. This Justify colt has a record of eight from twelve starts, but is unbeaten in seven since July of 2025, and his domination of the Goodwood Cup the last day, over 8 lengths ahead of the respected Trawlerman just emphasised his superiority in this division. Joseph O’Brien’s Trustyourinstinct continues to improve, and the selection’s stablemates Jan Brueghel and Queenstown are also decent rivals, but they are all playing second fiddle to Scandinavia.

Moyglare “Jewels” Blandford Stakes (Group 2) (Fillies & Mares) 5.10
Thundering On
It’s starting to look a day for all the favourites as I put this together on Saturday morning, but Thundering On has to be the one to follow for the Blandford Stakes. The easy winner of the Oaks at Epsom, Joseph O’Brien’s Frankel filly didn’t really act on the good to firm ground in the Pretty Polly here the last day, but possibly that race came too soon after that Classic, so I’ll give her another chance now. Ryan Moore is aboard in the absence of Dylan Brown McMonagle, but for me, with home advantage, I cannot see Charlie Johnston’s Timeforshowcasing being a big threat to Thundering On, and Ger Lyons’ Red Letter for me still has something to find giving away 3lbs. Yes to be sure, Thundering On is one of my two bankers of this Sunday at the Curragh, aside from Scandinavia, and I believe she will win.