2026 Irish Champion Festival Sunday Tips

A crap day at the office on Saturday. The only consolation was that we had two non-runners so at least they didn’t all lose. In fairness, both Alderman and The Strikin Viking ran well but unfortunately for us not well enough to place. Hopefully we do better at the Curragh, Dave Stevos’ 2026 Irish Champion Festival Sunday tips are below.

1.45 – Bold Lad Sprint Handicap (Premier)

I’ve already put Tango Flare up for this race ante-post at 20/1 and he’s 25s with a couple of firms now. He owes us nothing having won this for us last year, hopefully he gives another good account.

However, I am a bit concerned about the ground for Pat Foley’s charge. The Curragh got a bit more rain than expected so, in case it doesn’t dry out, I am going to go in again on one that will relish a bit of cut and the one that fits the bill is Thunderbear.

He lost his way for Jack Davison, for whom he won at G3 and Listed level. He had his first start for Stephen Thorne at Naas (5f, good) last week in cheekpieces and a tongue tie and he ran a very pleasing race, running on for a 4.75l third. The step back up to 6f will suit, as will this easier ground, and on his best form, he is more than capable of winning this off a mark of 93. At odds of 28/1, back Thunderbear e/w.

2026 Irish Champion Festival Sunday Tip: Tango Flare already advised e/w @ 20/1; Thunderbear e/w @ 28/1 (6 places) NAP

2.15 – Super Auction Sales Stakes (2yo)

I’m not sure why I am bothering with this race. My record in these sales’ races is diabolical but one of these days I’ll find one to run well and hopefully it’s tomorrow. In this particular race, it usually pays to side with a foreign raider. Nine of the last ten renewals have been won by visiting trainers but of course, the one I am backing is Irish trained…

In last year’s renewal Jack Davison ran a debutant and he ran an absolute cracker to finish fourth after suffering interference at the start. He runs another debutante this year in She’s Coul and, as the name suggests, she’s by Coulsty, a sire whose progeny often enjoy a bit of cut in the ground.

Bred For The Job

She’s a full sister to Hammer The Hammer, who was a very close fifth in the Ayr Gold Cup last season on soft ground and he has also won on good, so it shouldn’t matter what the weather does. Her dam is unraced but she’s a half-sister to Bengali Boys, who won the Weatherbys Super Sprint at Newbury in 2017 on soft ground. Obviously, this is a speculative pick but there’s enough to like on paper to warrant a small e/w interest on She’s Coul at 80/1.

2026 Irish Champion Festival Sunday Tip: She’s Coul e/w @ 80/1

2.50 – Moyglare Stud Stakes (Group 1)

Sun Goddess is one of five runners for the O’Brien clan and she should prove hard to beat. Dancing Destiny looks a shade overpriced at 14s but with just seven runners and two places on offer, I’ll give this race a miss. No bet.

2026 Irish Champion Festival Sunday Tip: No Bet

3.25 – Flying Five Stakes (Group 1)

I’ve already tipped up Gazelle d’Or for this race at 100/1. Colin Keane has been booked, she won’t mind a little bit of cut in the ground and Micheal Grassick seems pretty hopeful that she might sneak some prize money. With four places on offer now, I’m going to go in again for very small stakes. Fingers crossed for a good run.

2026 Irish Champion Festival Sunday Tip: Gazelle d’Or e/w @ 100/1 (4 places)

4.00 – Vincent O’Brien National Stakes (Group 1)

Monogram made a winning start over C&D last month, staying on well to get up late and win by a short head. He takes a massive step up in grade here and odds of 9/4 look a shade skinny to me in the circumstances.

Giant Sequioa won a G2 here last time but was far from impressive. He beat Florida Bay by half a length but the runner up wasn’t exactly ridden vigorously in the closing stages so in theory, Florida Bay looks far too big at 14s.

Up In Grade

However, the one I am going to take a chance on is another once-raced horse who is stepping up markedly in grade. Porto Vecchio wasn’t that strong in the betting when he made his debut over C&D in July but the Frankel colt ran out an impressive winner, travelling powerfully and putting the race to bed in the final furlong. That form has taken some knocks but he could only beat what was in front of him.

This is obviously harder but he’s a full brother to Homeless Songs, who won the Guineas here in 2022, so he is certainly bred to be a pattern horse. He should be suited by a bit of an ease in the ground and Dermot Weld said after his debut win that this race has always been his main target for the year. Will he be good enough? At odds of 16/1, it is worth chancing that he is.

2026 Irish Champion Festival Sunday Tip: Porto Vecchio e/w @ 16/1

4.35 – Irish St Leger (Group 1)

Another gimme for the O’Briens. They train six of the seven runners and Scandinavia is very hard to oppose. Meh. No bet.

2026 Irish Champion Festival Sunday Tip: No bet

5.10 – Blandford Stakes (Group 2)

One that might go well at a price here is the Johnny Murtagh trained Shaool. Her best effort came in a Listed race at Leopardstown (1m2f, heavy) last October when she bolted up by 6l. On her previous start she won the Northfields at this meeting (1m2f, gd-yld) so perhaps this has been a long term plan.

Her form on quick ground earlier this season was dire but on her first run back on easier ground at Galway in July she shaped way better, finishing sixth of 18 in a 1m4f Premier Handicap, 4l behind the winner Thread of Gold. She was a step slow away, was denied a clear run and was conceding 9lb to the winner, who was beaten just over 3l in a G3 at Leopardstown on Saturday.

2l ahead of her was Immutable, to whom she was conceding 10lb, and he won a premier handicap at Leopardstown yesterday. If she can build on that effort and the ground doesn’t dry out too much, she might be able to sneak a place here at odds of 28/1.

2026 Irish Champion Festival Sunday Tip: Shaool e/w @ 28/1 NB

-DaveStevos