About the race
The Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes is a Group 1 race over 1m2f on turf at Leopardstown, Foxrock, Dublin, for three-year-olds and upwards. It headlines day one of the Irish Champions Festival in September, with day two at the Curragh. Horse Racing Ireland’s official results list total prize money of EUR 1,250,000 in both 2025 and 2026, with the race sponsored by the Bahrain Turf Club. The festival website gives Saturday 11 September 2027 for the next Leopardstown day.
On 13 September 2025 Delacroix, ridden by Christophe Soumillon and trained by Aidan O’Brien, beat Anmaat by three-quarters of a length. The IFHA rated that running at 121.00, joint 16th in the world for 2025. On 12 September 2026 Hotazhell, trained by Mrs John Harrington, won by a nose from Wimbledon Hawkeye.
The 2025 running
| Date | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 September 2025 | Delacroix | C. Soumillon | A.P.O'Brien | Derrick Smith/Mrs.John Magnier/Michael Tabor |
From the official result.
The 2026 running
| Date | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 September 2026 | Hotazhell | S. Foley | Mrs John Harrington | Silverton Hill Partnership |
From the official result.
Recognition and facts
- Part of
- Irish Champions Festival, day one at Leopardstown
- 2026 winner's prize
- EUR 725,000 of a EUR 1,250,000 total (HRI)
- 2027 date
- Saturday 11 September 2027 (Irish Champions Festival)
- IFHA ranking for 2025
- Joint 16th in the world, race rating 121.00
Questions readers ask
When is the Irish Champion Stakes run?
In September at Leopardstown, on day one of the Irish Champions Festival. The next running is scheduled for Saturday 11 September 2027.
What is the prize fund of the Irish Champion Stakes?
EUR 1,250,000 in 2026, according to Horse Racing Ireland's official result.
Who won the Irish Champion Stakes in 2025?
Delacroix, ridden by Christophe Soumillon and trained by Aidan O'Brien, won on 13 September 2025.
Sources
The rank and rating are from the IFHA's LONGINES World's Top 100 Group/Grade 1 Races 2025, published 21 January 2026, which ranks races by the ratings of their first four finishers. Other facts are from the pages listed below.
- IFHA: LONGINES World's Top 100 Group/Grade 1 Races 2025 (published 21 January 2026)
- Day 1 Leopardstown, Irish Champions Festival
- Race result: The Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes, Leopardstown, 13 September 2025, Horse Racing Ireland
- Race result: The Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes, Leopardstown, 12 September 2026, Horse Racing Ireland
- Contact Us, Leopardstown Racecourse