Andy Newton’s Curragh Horse Racing tips on Irish Champions Festival 2026

See Andy Newton’s Curragh Horse Racing tips on Sunday 13th September – day TWO of the Irish Champions Festival.

On the day there’s another classy eight-race card for horse racing lovers to enjoy

Which include FOUR Group One races – Moyglare Stud Stakes, Flying Five, National Stakes and the Irish St Leger.

It’s all set to be a cracking afternoon at the Curragh – so lets get cracking!

Andy Newton’s Quickfire Curragh Horse Racing Tips: Sunday 13th September, 2026:

• 2:50 Curragh: SUN GODDESS
• 3:25 Curragh: TIME FOR SANDALS (e/w)
• 4:00 Curragh: DR RASCAL 
• 4:35 Curragh: SCANDINAVIA 
• 5:10 Curragh: LILT (e/w)

🎙️You can also catch Andy’s views each week on the Final Furlong Podcast here.

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Andy Newton’s Curragh Horse Racing Tips On Sunday

 

 

2:50 Moyglare Stud Stakes (Group 1) (Fillies) (2yo) 7f ITV

SUN GODDESS can shine again and add this Group One to what’s already been a top season for this Aidan O’Brien 2yold filly.

She heads here having won her last three now after running second in the Albany at Royal Ascot in June.

This Sioux Nation filly is also 3-3 here at the Curragh so there are no track unknowns and has beaten her main rival in the betting – Green Empress – twice already this season.

Then last time at York she looked even better in a Sales race, having looked in trouble a few furlongs out.

Only to turn on the after-burners and win by an easy 6 lengths.

More of the same is the call here as she looks to give Aidan O’Brien a record extending 12th win in the Moyglare.

🥇SUN GODDESS
🥈Green Empress
🥉Alpha

3:25 BAR 1 Betting Flying Five Stakes (Group 1) (3yo+) 5f ITV

TIME FOR SANDALS has been a bit unlucky in her last two runs and is the call to make amends here in what looks another typical tough renewal.

Last season’s G1 Commonwealth Cup winner was a close 3rd in the King George V Stakes at Goodwood in July.

Then last time ran on well behind the classy Bacio to take 4th in the Nunthorpe – when not getting then best of runs through.

She gets the handy 3lbs fillies’ allowance here too and this has not been a bad race for the ladies – with 4 of the last 7 winners a mare.

July Cup winner Comanche Brave will be popular too, but has never raced over 5f.

A shout out to the Jm Jungle lads as well as their popular and tough sprinter tries to back up his recent Beverley Bullet win.

We’ve also got the King Charles III Royal Ascot winner Mission Central – he’ll be looking to add to Aidan O’Brien’s three wins in this race.

While the old boy Big Gossey is also out again at his beloved Curragh, where he’s won 10 times. He’s huge a 66/1 with Billy Lee on as this division is anyone’s at the moment.

🥇TIME FOR SANDALS
🥈Mission Central
🥉Big Gossey

4:00 Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes (Group 1) (No Geldings) (2yo) 7f RTE1

DR RASCAL can follow in the footsteps of last year’s Vintage Stakes winner Zavateri and raid Ireland for the National Stakes too.

This Oliver Cole juvenile doesn’t like to make things easy for himself – having gotten loose two runs ago before winning at Ascot.

Then last time at Goodwood had to make a daring run up the rail to win in gutsy fashion under a good ride from Kaiya Fraser (watch below).

You’d imagine connections would have had a few offers for him since but seem to be holding firm at the moment and is 33/1 for the 2000 Guineas before this.

He’s still 3-3 and unbeaten, so there should be more to come and as long as he’s handled the trip over well looks the value over the home-trained players.

These include Aidan’s Giant Sequoia, who had to tough it out last time to win the Futurity here, and Haffner, who doesn’t look the fastest and might need this to be a slog to figure.

We’ve also got 2000 Guineas 14/1 shot Monogram in for Juddmonte and Joseph O’Brien. He won on debut, but only by a short-head.

That form is yet to be tested, but is clearly held in high regard and that proven CD form will be a plus.

But I still think Dr Rascal can come up with the right medicine again and land a famous win for trainer Oliver Cole.

🥇DR RASCAL
🥈Monogram
🥉Giant Sequoia

4:35 Comer Group International Irish St. Leger (Group 1) (3yo+) 1m6f RTE1

SCANDINAVIA can give Aidan O’Brien his 8th Irish St Leger – which will move him to just one behind the legendary Vincent O’Brien.

This prolific flat staying winning machine can win his 9th race and his 5th Group One here – and what’s scary for his rivals in this division is that he’s still only 4yold.

His last win came with an easy success in the Goodwood Cup and despite dropping back to 1m6f is very versatile in terms of trip.

Don’t forget, only back in May 2025, he won over 1m2f, so today’s 1m6f distance will be fine – having also won the St Leger at Donny over this distance last season.

The 2024 St Leger winner and Scandinavia’s stablemate Jan Brueghel looks next best and can go well now back to this trip too (2-2 over it).

While CD winner Trustyourinstinct has also been running well this season and this JP McManus-owned 6yold will be trying to upset the Ballydoyle applecart.

But both have a bit to find on these terms with the 125-rated pick, so Scandinavia is the obvious call to once again freeze out his rivals.

🥇SCANDINAVIA
🥈Trustyourinstinct
🥉Jan Brueghel

5:10 Moyglare ”Jewels” Blandford Stakes (Group 2) (Fillies & Mares) (3yo+) 1m2f RTE1

LILT is the value alternative over the favourite and Epsom Oaks winner Thundering On.

Yes, the Classic winner is the top-rated at 117 and has Ryan Moore on. Plus Joseph O’Brien has won 2 of the last 4 runnings.

But there are also many reasons to look elsewhere.

Firstly, she’s little value to be. While I’m not sure this year’s Oaks was a strong race.

This race is also 0/7 for favourites in recent years and – is she as good back down to 1m2f?

We’ll find out – I guess – but with all these doubts I’m happy to take a chance on Lile, who was a good winner at York two runs ago.

And that form has been well advertised since.

She then ran well behind Diamond Necklace (6th) in France and really this is a drop in grade.

The horse has only had three career runs and has been freshened up with 3 months off – Haggas also won this back in 2003 (Chorist).

Timeforshowcasing and the 4yold Red Letter are noted too – but I just think the last-named is a better horse over a tad shorter. Plus all of the last 7 winners of this were aged 3.

I’ll take Lilt to land the drinks money with Tom Marquand coming over for the ride.

🥇LILT (e/w)
🥈Thundering On
🥉Red Letter