RACING

Ryan McElligott

The Irish flat season draws to its now traditional crescendo this week with the third staging of Irish Champions Weekend which is shaping up to be better than ever at this stage.

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The domestic turf season will continue until late October, but it is this weekend where the campaign reaches its zenith and indications are that the Champions Weekend concept has gained the level of international traction. This is a vital component in making a fixture such as this a success.

There was a time when Irish racing’s leading flat prizes played host to some of the stars of the French scene. In recent years, participation from France has waned considerably so it is especially heartening to see trainer Jean-Claude Rouget, who has dominated French racing this term, targeting Irish Champions Weekend with stable stars Almanzor and Qemah.

The involvement of some top-class French horses is testament to the standing of Irish Champions Weekend and the efforts that have gone into shaping this fixture over the last number of years. Irish racing isn’t without its shortcomings, some of which have been starkly illustrated in recent months, but this is one of the success stories.

Without delving each and every contest, this weekend there are a number of races to savour, and several of these are worth considering. Firstly, the QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes on Saturday promises to be one of the standout races of the year in Europe.

Dermot Weld’s dual Derby winner Harzand, his dual Group 1 winning stablemate Fascinating Rock, the aforementioned Almanzor, the brilliant filly Minding, last year’s second Found and the globretrotting Highland Reel represent an outstanding gathering for this contest. It will be fascinating to see how Minding fares on her first venture outside of fillies only company and she might well carry the day.

On the same Leopardstown card, the Group 1 Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes will see the top French filly Qemah square off against old foe Alice Springs, while Somehow is a fascinating runner having excelled for a recent drop back in trip at the Curragh.

However, they might all have to give best to the undefeated English filly Persuasive. She has yet to run at the top level but has progressed markedly with every run this season and looks more than ready for the step up to this level.

DAUNTING STANDARD

Meanwhile, Order Of St George shouldn’t have too much trouble making it back-to-back wins in the Irish St Leger. He has carried all before him in the staying division this year and sets a daunting standard on the pick of his form.

Away from this week’s domestic activity, Aidan O’Brien heads into the weekend with cast iron claims of bagging a third and final English classic winner of the 2016 season. The Ballydoyle trainer’s Idaho is a worthy short-priced favourite, having won last month’s Great Voltigeur Stakes as well as reaching the frame in the Epsom and Irish Derbys.

It will be a surprise if he meets with defeat, although his very likeable and teak tough stablemate Sword Fighter could give him a fright.