It is a hugely busy and exciting time for Irish racing, with the Listowel Harvest Festival on all week and Longines Irish Champions Weekend taking centre stage this Saturday and Sunday.

It’s Leopardstown first where Alpha Centauri is the star attraction in the Group 1 Matron Stakes. Jessica Harrington’s filly is set to have her first run in Ireland since winning the Irish 1,000 Guineas, after which she produced superb performances to win Group 1 races in Royal Ascot, Newmarket and Deauville.

In the Irish Champion Stakes, Saxon Warrior and Roaring Lion are set to meet for a sixth time with the score line currently three wins to two to the latter.

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Sunday at the Curragh is the only card on the Irish racing calendar to feature four Group 1s. In the pick of the action, Godolphin’s Blue Point is set to run in the newly upgraded Flying Five Stakes while Aidan O’Brien’s Anthony Van Dyck will bid to further enhance his reputation in the Vincent O’Brien National Stakes.

There is plenty going on off the track as well. Goffs will operate a sale from the parade ring before racing at Leopardstown while The Riptide Movement will provide musical entertainment after the action. At the Curragh, Limerick band Hermitage Green will close out the weekend.