THE Irish Champions Festival was held across two courses—Leopardstown and The Curragh—over the weekend of September 12 and 13, and Saturday’s big race at Leopardstown, the Group One Champion Stakes, was won by the 50/1 outsider of the eight runner field.

IN THE world of flat racing, the month of May traditionally heralds the beginning of the season’s Classic races, a collection of Group 1 events seen as the most prestigious in the calendar.