Irish Champion Stakes

The Irish Champion Stakes, run each September at Leopardstown in Dublin, is one of Europe’s most prestigious middle-distance turf races. Contested over 1¼ miles, the €1.25 million Group 1 attracts the world’s best horses, trainers, and jockeys, serving as both a Breeders’ Cup qualifier and a highlight of Irish Champions Weekend. Year after year, it delivers unforgettable finishes and showcases true international class.

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Bet the Irish Champion Stakes

Bet the Irish Champion Stakes

Location: Leopardstown Racecourse, Dublin, Ireland

Inaugural Race: 1976

TV Coverage: Stream live on TwinSpires.com!

Current Distance: 1 mile & 2 furlongs (2,012 metres)

Track Type: Left-Handed, Turf

Age Qualification: 3YOs & Up

Purse: €1,000,000

Race Date: Saturday, September 13th

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2025 Irish Champions Stakes Race Results

Official race results and payouts are listed below:

PPHORSEJOCKEY / TRAINERWIN / PLACE
5
Delacroix
Christophe Soumillon / A.P. O'Brien
€3.00 / €1.60
1
Anmaat
Chris Hayes / Owen Burrows
€1.35
2
Royal Champion
Clifford Lee / K.R. Burke
€4.85
6
Hotazhell
Shane Foley / Mrs John Harrington
4
White Birch
Dylan Browne McMonagle / John Joseph Murphy
3
Shin Emperor
Ryusei Sakai / Yoshito Yahagi
8
Zahrann
Ben Coen / J.P. Murtagh
7
Mount Kilimanjaro
Ronan Whelan / A.P. O'Brien

Exotic Payoffs:

  • €1 Exacta (5-1) Paid: €6.50
  • €1 Trifecta (5-1-2) Paid: €58.00

 

Watch the 2025 Irish Champions Stakes

History of the Irish Champions Stakes

The Irish Champion Stakes, staged each September at Leopardstown Racecourse in Dublin, is one of Europe’s most prestigious middle-distance contests. First run in 1976, the race was established to provide Ireland with a marquee 1¼-mile turf event capable of attracting international competition. Initially carrying Group 1 status and offering significant prize money, it quickly gained a reputation as a proving ground for the best three-year-olds and older horses from across Europe.

From the beginning, the Irish Champion Stakes was designed to bridge the Irish flat season with other major late-summer and autumn targets such as the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and the Champion Stakes at Ascot. Its September placement made it an ideal clash point between classic-season sophomores and seasoned older horses, and the roll call of winners reflects that balance. Champions such as Sadler’s Wells, Golden Fleece, Giant’s Causeway, and Sea The Stars all used Leopardstown as a stage to underline their greatness.

Over time, the race’s prestige has only grown. Since 2014, the Irish Champion Stakes has been the centerpiece of Irish Champions Weekend, sharing the spotlight with the Irish St. Leger at the Curragh and drawing global attention to Ireland’s racing calendar. In recent years, it has also taken on added significance as a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Turf, tying its rich local tradition to the international stage. With a purse of €1 million in 2025, the race continues to rank among the most valuable and competitive turf events in the world, routinely attracting elite jockeys, legendary trainers, and runners bred to excel at the highest level.

All-Time Results for the Irish Champions Stakes

Year
Winner
Jockey / Trainer
Distance / Time
2025
Delacroix
Christophe Soumillon / A.P. O’Brien
1 M & 2 F / 2:04.69
2024
Economics
Tom Marquand / William Haggas
1 M & 2 F / 2:03.20
2023
Auguste Rodin
Ryan Moore / A P O'Brien
1 M & 2 F / 2:02.68
2022
Luxembourg
Ryan Moore / Aidan O'Brien
1 M & 2 F / 2:12.10
2021
St Mark's Basilica
Ryan Moore / Aidan O'Brien
1 M & 2 F / 2:11.19
2020
Magical
Seamie Heffernan / Aidan O'Brien
1 M & 2 F / 2:05.08
2019
Magical
Ryan Moore / Aidan O'Brien
1 M & 2 F / 2:06.49
2018
Roaring Lion
Oisin Murphy / John Gosden
1 M & 2 F / 2:07.21
2017
Decorated Knight
Andrea Atzeni / Roger Charlton
1 M & 2 F / 2:08.36
2016
Almanzor
Christophe Soumillon / Jean-Claude Rouget
1 M & 2 F / 2:08.93

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