Jane Mangan
Jane Mangan’s William Hill blog: Irish Champions Weekend 2026 Best Bets
William Hill ambassador Jane Mangan is back with her best bets across Irish Champions Weekend.
Leopardstown, Saturday
The opening race of Irish Champions Weekend, the Listed Ingabelle Stakes (1:35pm), is a fascinating one. I like MAIRE RUA for Colin Keane and Ger Lyons. She looked very smart when winning a course-and-distance maiden in July and, whilst she was disappointing in defeat at Cork subsequently, the trainer has a fantastic record when lining the filly up for the right race. He’s won it three of the last four years, and I think she can make amends for her most recent disappointment and get us off to a flyer!
Sticking to the theme of Juddmonte runners, I like PURVIEW in the G3 Kilternan Stakes (3:15pm) over the mile and a half. He’s a Group One winner running in a Group Three, just as last year’s winner, Convergent, was. Purview is entered in the Arc and it wouldn’t surprise me if this was a prep for that race. He was very good at the Curragh over ten furlongs last time and is adaptable regarding the trip. He was left in the Irish Champions Stakes until the very last minute, and I wonder whether Purview would have lined up there had Item not run. He wouldn’t have been without a chance in that company, so with his rating of 118, he sets the standard here. He is clear on ratings, and I think he could be clear on the day.
The G1 Matron Stakes (3:55pm) is next. FALLEN ANGEL won this race last year, adding to her tally of five Group One wins, and I think she is a big price to make it number six against younger rivals here. She actually beat Blue Bolt in the Sun Chariot around this time last year, but Blue Bolt is obviously a much-improved filly now and has carried all before her this season. However, I think Fallen Angel is value against her. The three-year-olds have been busy this season and, with rain assured, I think Karl Burke’s filly might come into her own.
My selection in the mile-long Solonaway Stakes (4:25pm) is QUDDWAH. Trained by Simon and Ed Crisford, who tasted glory in this race in 2022 with Jadoomi, he chased home no other than Ombudsman in the Dubai Turf on his last start back in March. It is a slight concern that we haven’t seen him since, but he has a tremendous record when running fresh. He’s the one to beat.
The big race of the weekend is the Irish Champion Stakes (5:00pm). It’s great to have the first three home from the Juddmonte International at York reopposing, with ITEM bidding to become the first horse since Roaring Lion in 2018 to complete the Juddmonte International and Irish Champion Stakes double. Before him, you have to go back to a certain Sea The Stars in 2009, so it’s a difficult achievement.
With that said, I’m siding with him to confirm the form with his rivals here. Much has been made of the run of Constitution River at York and how it wouldn’t have suited him, but Item didn’t have the ideal trip either. He’s only been beaten once in his career, and that was in attritional conditions at Epsom. He’s an improving horse and, whilst he definitely stays further than this trip, he will have no issue with a scorching pace that looks assured here. Andrew Balding and Colin Keane have had a wonderful season so far, and I think it’s going to get even better with Item winning the Irish Champion Stakes.
The final race on Leopardstown’s card is the mile-long fillies’ handicap (6:10pm). I’m a big fan of REBEL WAVE; I think she is a filly who is improving with racing for Willie McCreery and Ben Coen. She won well at Gowran Park just over five weeks ago and had a bit up her sleeve that day, hitting the line strongly. She looks well in off a mark of 82 and, with a good draw in stall one, I think she will run a big race in the finale.
Curragh, Sunday
There are four Group Ones in the space of two hours at the Curragh on Sunday. We’ll kick off with the Moyglare Stakes (2:50pm). I fancy GREEN EMPRESS for Joseph O’Brien. She must overhaul the mighty Ballydoyle contingent, but I think she is up to doing so. She holds Alpha on the form of her last run. She encountered trouble in running but got up to win and, with a clear run, she would have beaten her by further. I think she will also have the beating of Sun Goddess. They have met twice and Sun Goddess has won both, but I think that the extra furlong and the rain that has fallen won’t play into the hands of the favourite. She is a remarkable filly at six furlongs, but this is a big ask for a filly who has been kept busy this season. This is her seventh run of the year. She could just prove vulnerable for those reasons, and I think Green Empress is up to taking advantage.
It’s fantastic to see such a strong overseas challenge for the Flying Five Stakes (3:25pm). Donnacha O’Brien’s Comanche Brave is going to be a difficult horse to repel, but I think Harry Eustace’s filly TIME FOR SANDALS might have the answers. She was unlucky not to finish second in the Nunthorpe last time and ran well before that behind American Affair at Goodwood. Kieran Shoemark will be playing his cards late aboard this filly, but hopefully this time around she will have the luck of the draw. If she does, I think she will win the Flying Five.
The National Stakes (4:00pm) comes next; it’s always a fabulous race and provides a good pointer to the Classics next season. The Irish team look very strong, but I’m opposing them with DR RASCAL for Oliver Cole. He’s unbeaten, three from three, and I believe that if he was with a more powerful outfit, he would be a far shorter price. He was very good when beating Haffner in the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood, which is often a good pointer to this contest. It’s the National Stakes going for export this year for me, with Dr Rascal.
The Irish St Leger (4:35pm) looks a formality for me. It’s hard to call anything a certainty in this game, but barring incident, SCANDINAVIA wins this contest. He’s carried all before him in the staying division this season. I don’t see that changing here, and he will land his third Group One of the season here.
The Blandford Stakes (5:10pm) is a Group Two by name, but it looks a Group One in nature – what a fabulous renewal we’ve been served up here. It’s great to see THUNDERING ON returning, having disappointed in the Pretty Polly in June. Obviously, she was remarkably impressive when winning the Oaks on rain-softened ground at Epsom and, with Ryan Moore booked, you’d have to think that she really sets the standard here.
If I had to put up an each-way shout, I’d side with LILT for William Haggas. I think she could run a big race. She’s a filly that he has always held in high regard and, despite disappointing in the Prix de Diane when last seen, she recorded a facile win in the Michael Seely at York back in May. She’s had a break; she goes on the ground and could be a bit of value in the Blandford.
