Constitution Hill eyes Curragh appearance in Irish St Leger

The hugely popular Constitution Hill, Japanese superstar Forever Young, 2025 world champion Calandagan, reigning Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe hero Daryz and are among the most exciting contenders for the Irish Champions Festival at Leopardstown on Saturday, September 12 and the Curragh on Sunday, September 13.

The €500,0000 Comer Group International Irish St Leger at the Curragh on the second day of the Irish Champions Festival, promises to be a huge draw, especially if Constitution Hill takes up his entry for the final Classic of the season.

After eight Grade1 wins, Nicky Henderson’s superb hurdler is arguably the highest profile horse in training. His two starts to date on the Flat - both wins - have created enormous buzz and connections are keen to send him to the Curragh should conditions suit.

Potential opponents could include last year’s winner Al Riffa, the brilliant Scandinavia, unbeaten in his last five starts, including the St Leger at Doncaster, Willie Mullins’ Breeders’ Cup Turf champion Ethical Diamond and Jan Breughel, highest-rated of the field on a mark 125.

Caballo De Mar, trained by George Scott in Newmarket and a Group 1 winner in Paris last week is another potential starter along with two German-trained contenders, Lordano and Narrativo, first and second in the Group 2 Comer Group International 55th Oleander-Rennen in Berlin earlier this month.

A total of 63 entries were received for the showpiece, one of four Group 1 races on the Curragh programme.

“The Irish Champions Festival is one of the highlights of the season here at the Curragh and we are delighted with the entries for the 2026 renewal of the Comer Group Irish St Leger,” said Brian Kavanagh, Curragh Racecourse CEO.

“This is one of Europe’s leading staying races and it is very pleasing to see entries from Ireland, Great Britain and Germany including defending champion Al Riffa, dual Derby winner Lambourn and the ever-popular Constitution Hill.

“Having opened our Classic season last weekend, we look forward to high quality Group 1 action throughout the season, culminating with Day 2 of the Irish Champions Festival here on Sunday September 13th.” The entries for the €1.25 million Group 1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes on the Saturday are the best the race has ever received at the initial stage.

Forever Young is the second highest stakes earner of all time with two Saudi Cups either side of a famous Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar last year. The first dirt-surface horse to be crowned Japan’s Horse of the Year, he is trained by Yoshito Yahagi who may return with Shin Emperor, third in the big race at Leopardstown in 2024 and, like Forever Young, owned by Susumu Fujita.

Calandagan topped the World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for 2025 with a rating of 130 after four successive Group 1s, culminating with a memorable Japan Cup victory, the first by a foreign runner for 20 years. Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, he has since landed the Group 1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic.

Stable companion Daryz, also owned by the Aga Khan Studs, is the reigning Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe champion. He lies joint-second in the most recent global rankings published earlier this month and added another Group 1 title in Paris last week.

The Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes attracted 48 entries at this week’s preliminary stage – a remarkable 18 of those successful at Group 1 level internationally - including Minnie Hauk, Lambourn, Gstaad and Precise, all Classic winners from the Aidan O’Brien team.

Ombudsman, trained by John and Thady Gosden, joint-second in last year’s world rankings on a mark of 128 is another in the mix and he added the Group 1 Dubai Turf in March. Almaqam, successful in last weekend’s Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh for trainer Ed Walker, is also present.

A third Japanese entry has been received from the connections of Sugar Kun, a Grade 2 winner in Tokyo two years ago, and recently returned from a layoff.

Mark Clayton, CEO of Leopardstown Racecourse, said: “We are delighted to have such strong international and domestic entries in the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes. These are the best we have ever received for the race and we look forward to welcoming everyone here on Saturday, September 12.

“Forever Young visiting would be a real feather in our cap. His participation, along with that of Calandagan and Daryz, would continue to underline the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes as one of the top races in the world.”