Main Aidan O’Brien Runners For Irish Champions Festival Weekend 2024

We look ahead to the main Aidan O’Brien runners at this weekend’s Irish Champions Festival – in what is two huge horse racing days in the Emerald Isle for both the Leopardstown and the Curragh tracks.

Saturday 14th September: Aidan O’Brien Runners at Leopardstown For Irish Champions Festival 2024

2:50 Matron Stakes (Group 1): YLANG YLANG

The main Aidan O’Brien runner in the Matron Stakes looks set to be Ylang Ylang, who is on a bit of a comeback trail after some average runs this year.

This Frankel filly was destined for big things after winning the bet65 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket last season, but despite a fine 5th in the 1000 Guineas back in May (watch below) has run poorly in her last two races.

She flopped as the 11/8 favourite with the best horse racing betting sites in the UK in the Epsom Oaks and then last time finished down the field in the G3 Desmond Stakes at here at Leopardstown.

Aidan O’Brien has won the Matron Stakes three times in the past – and need one more to equal the record haul of John Dunlop.

3:25 Irish Champion Stakes: AUGUSTE RODIN, LOS ANGELES and LUXEMBOURG

With €712k on offer to the winner, the Irish Champion Stakes is the big feature of Irish Champions Weekend and it’s a race Aidan O’Brien loves to win.

The Ballydoyle handler has won the race a staggering 12 times, including for the last five seasons – and he’s back for more in 2024 with another strong hand.

UK raider Economics will be the one to beat – according to the best betting sites in the UK – but this will be his toughest race yet and is playing away from home for the first time.

O’Brien will pin his main hopes in the race on his 2023 Epsom Derby winner Auguste Rodin, who despite flopping in the King George again last time is the king of the comebacks.

He also won this race 12 months ago and the reports coming out of the yard are that he’s thriving again at home.

If Rodin flops again, however, this might be the last time horse racing fans see him, but if he runs well – then the Japan Cup at the end of November could be his swansong race.

O’Brien could also have the 2022 Irish Champion Stakes winner in Luxembourg, who was also runner-up in 2023.

While in the same colours as Luxembourg, this Irish Derby winner Los Angeles (watch below) is also expected to line-up.

This improving 3 year-old has also since won the Great Voltigeur at York – but those against him might look to the return to 1m2f as not being ideal – we’ll see.

Other Notable Aidan O’Brien Runners at Leopardstown on Saturday

When Is Irish Champions Festival Weekend 2024?

📅Date: Saturday 14th Sept/Sunday 15th Sept 2024
🏇Racecourse: Leopardstown (Sat)/Curragh (Sun)
📺 TV: ITV and RTV

Sunday 15th September: Aidan O’Brien Runners at the Curragh For Irish Champions Festival 2024

3:35 Moyglare Stud Stakes: BEDTIME STORY

Being billed by many as the next big Aidan O’Brien superstar horse, Bedtime Story has so far lived up to the hype by winning all four starts.

One of which was a facile 9 1/2 lengths win in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot in June (watch below).

The latest came in the G2 Debutante Stakes here at the Curragh and despite going off as the red-hot 1/16 favourite, had to work harder than those odds suggested – beating her stablemate Exactly by just 1/2 a length.

She’s already a big fancy for the 1000 Guineas next season at Newmarket but will need a slightly better performance than last time to regain her superstar status.

O’Brien has won the Moyglare Stud Stakes nine times – with his last winner Love in 2019.

4:10 Vincent O’Brien National Stakes: HENRI MATISSE

The Vincent O’Brien Stakes has been won by Aidan O’Brien 12 times and he needs just three more to equal the incredible tally of 15 the race’s namesake Vincent O’Brien racked up.

He’s got every chance of moving a step closer here though with the unbeaten Henri Matisse, who is 3-from-3 and looks another smart Ballydoyle horse in the making.

The most recent of his wins came in the G2 Futurity Stakes at the Curragh (watch below) and having looked a tad green that day can be expected to improve again.

4:45 Irish St Leger: KYPRIOS

Aidan O’Brien’s star stayer at the moment is his Ascot Gold Cup hero Kyprios, who also won this race in 2022.

However, his colours were lowered in this contest 12 months ago, when beaten by former Leger winner Edgar Eldarov, so it’s totally bombproof here.

Yes, Kyprios has since bounced back to win all his four races this season – adding the Goodwood Cup (watch  below) to his Royal Ascot win – but those against him will say the drop back to 1m6f isn’t totally ideal.

He’s also taking on the in-form Giavellotto, who has impressed with wins in the Yorkshire Cup and Princess Of Wales’s Stakes last time out – and on what is likely to be quicker ground, is sure to have plenty of supporters over the hot O’Brien favourite Kyprios.

O’Brien, who will be looking for his seventh Irish St Leger winner, could also have his 2023 British St Leger winner Continuous in the race, who is certainly no back number either.

While the versatile Vauban, adds further spice to the race, but another trip Down Under to the Melbourne Cup looks his main target in November.

Other Notable Aidan O’Brien Runners at the Curragh on Sunday

WATCH: Aidan O’Brien Talking About His 2024 Irish Champions Weekend Main Runners