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

See Andy Newton’s Leopardstown Horse Racing tips on Saturday 12th September – day ONE of the Irish Champions Festival.

On the day there’s a monster eight-race card for fans to get stuck into, that include the Irish Champion Stakes at 5pm.

Where Constitution River will be trying to gain revenge over Item, who beat him into third in the Juddmonte International Stakes last time out.

We’ve also got the Group One Matron and Golden Fleece Stakes on the card on a crackerjack of an afternoon at the Dublin track.

Andy Newton’s Quickfire Leopardstown Horse Racing Tips: Saturday 12th September, 2026:

• 2:45 Leopardstown: DARKNESS FALLS 
• 3:15 Leopardstown: PURVIEW / GREEN IMPACT
• 3:55 Leopardstown: BLUE BOLT 
• 4:25 Leopardstown: HAZDANN (e/w)
• 5:00 Leopardstown: ITEM / A BOY NAMED SUSIE

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

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Andy Newton’s Leopardstown Horse Racing Tips On Saturday

14:45 – HKJC World Pool Golden Fleece Stakes (Group 1) (No Geldings) (2yo) 1m1f

DARKNESS FALLS caught many people’s eye when winning by a street last time out at the Curragh.

As a result, this Aidan O’Brien runner is into 25/1 for the Epsom Derby next year and Ballydoyle have won this race in the past with Classic heroes (Auguste Rodin and Australia).

I think this son of Camelot was probably flattered by the margin of that last win, but it was still visually impressive and you feel there should be more in the tank too.

Those against him might look to him losing by 4 1/2 lengths to Green Dreamer (runs here too) at Leopardstown, but he’s clearly thrived since and over this extra furlong can reverse that form.

Aidan O’Brien also has a top record in this race – winning the prize 11 times, including 3 of the last 4.

While the jollies also do well here – with 6 of the last 8 favourites hitting the bullseye.

The unbeaten Quest Of Stars for Charlie Appleby looks the one to give the pick most to think about (50/1 for the 2027 Derby).

But only just got home by a neck in a Listed race at Salisbury last time and might just need a bit more.

But the fact Appleby is bringing this Sea The Stars colt over is a plus, with James Doyle riding.

With seven of the 10 runners trained by Aidan and Joseph O’Brien – Quest Of Stars will be trying to upset the father and son domination.

🥇DARKNESS FALLS
🥈Nola Soul
🥉Green Dreamer 

15:15 – World Pool Bet With The Tote Kilternan Stakes (Group 3) (3yo+) 1m4f

PURVIEW has been given plenty of time by connections this season – running just twice – and that’s a sign in my book that veteran trainer Dermot Weld likes this one.

He’s won in good fashion at the Curragh twice, beating the 2024 winner of this race Trustyourinstinct each time.

Weld also has a fine return in this race – winning 3 of the last 10 runnings – and 3 or 4 year-old have also landed ALL of the last 10.

While the form of his last win has a solid look to it, with the likes of Isaac Newton and Geryon winning since.

Draw 11 might be a niggle with 7 of the last 8 winners coming between just gates 4-8.

While the Breeders’ Cup in a few months might be the bigger target for Purview.

But connections also thought him good enough for a crack at the Champion Stakes. While his best run to date has been over this 1m4f trip – so coming here looks a good move.

Colin Keane rides and on what could be a good day for the Juddmonte team I’ll take View to ‘Purr’ again and go close.

Course winners Sons And Lovers, James J Braddock and GREEN IMPACT are next best.

The last-named loves it here at Leopardstown – with form here reading 1-1-2 – and only beaten a short-head behind Breeders’ Cup winner Ethical Diamond here the last day.

That was his first run since May too, so can be expected to come on for it, so it would be no shock to see Green make an ‘Impact’ here for the Jessie Harrington team.

🥇PURVIEW
🥈GREEN IMPACT
🥉James J Braddock 

15:55 – Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes (Group 1) (Fillies & Mares) (3yo+) 1m

BLUE BOLT can give more joy to Juddmonte here after seeing off Irish 1000 Guineas winner Precise the last twice.

The pick also gave Precise 9lbs when beating her in the Falmouth Stakes, but only has to give away 5lbs this time – meaning she’s also 4lbs better off.

Her only blot came on debut when 5th at Southwell (can you believe?) – but since then has finished 1st or 2nd in all her races, including winning her last four.

True Love is also trying to lower the colours of the Balding horse, but with Ryan Moore preferring Precise, then you feel her chance is a bit further down the pecking order.

But True Love is 1-1 here at Leopardstown – whereas, Precise is actually running here for the first time.

However, with another 41 days to freshen up from her last win in France, Blue Bolt should be ready to put in another ‘lightning’ performance.

She’s the call to take care of the Ballydoyle main players again and give Andrew Balding his first win in this and Colin Keane his second.

🥇BLUE BOLT
🥈Precise
🥉True Love 

16:25 – Tonybet Solonaway Stakes (Group 2) (3yo+) 1m

HAZDANN (e/w) is chanced here in a race that cases can be made for many and also holes picked in the main players.

Yes, Isaac Newton (cool name) will be popular after a win last time here, but this Camelot colt hasn’t really fulfilled the promise many expected.

That win was in a G3 though and is up in class again here and even though Aidan O’Brien also have a top record in this race (7 wins) – I’m not sure he’s value.

Faiyum is another for Juddmonte on the day and will be a player too after a second here last time.

While Power Blue is noted as well, but is 0-3 over this 1m trip and might be a better horse at the Curragh.

Then Quddwah is more than capable after winning at G2 in Meydan but is back from 168 days off.

So – why not opt for a bit of value with the lesser-exposed Aga Khan runner Hazdann?

Trained by Dermot Weld, who has landed this pot three times in the past, he’s only had five career runs and so might have more to offer.

Last time he hung a bit and took a tug, but still won at Roscommon – plus with that win coming over 1m 2 1/2f we know he stays well.

He was also only 3 3/4 behind Isaac Newton two runs ago but is 6lbs better off and before that was only beaten 1 1/2 lengths to he Breeders’ Cup winner Henri Matisse here at Leopardstown.

The final plus is the draw (7), as 70% of the last 10 winners hailed between gates 3-7 – something that might also be against Isaac Newton in stall 10.

🥇HAZDANN (e/w)
🥈Quddwah
🥉Power Blue

17:00 – Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes (Group 1) (3yo+) 1m2f

Onto the ‘big one’ and we’ve got a fascinating renewal between Item and Constitution River, who were first and third in the Juddmonte International Stakes last time.

The betting suggests that Con River will overturn that form – with most firms making him favourite. As he did take a fair tug and not settle the last day.

However, there was 3 3/4 lengths between the pair, so I don’t see that myself.

Yes, punters will say that the Item is taking on Aidan O’Brien’s horse in his own backyard – but Constitution River has never run here at Leopardstown.

Okay, nor has Item – but the point it Item is still rated 3lbs higher and they meet again off levels.

The shorter Leopardstown straight might also be a reason people will side with Constitution River – as Item has looked as if he needs plenty of time to get going.

And, is the horse turning into a York specialist?

But even though the horse hasn’t raced here, his jockey Colin Keane has many many times.

Item’s Only Flaw Came In The Derby

His only blot came in the Epsom Derby when he probably didn’t handle the track (or maybe the softer ground) but has since been very impressive at York.

And the form of his win two runs back there has since been boosted with the runner-up Pride Of Arras winning the September Stakes last weekend.

Of course Constitution River is respected, but I think he probably won a below-par Eclipse and did also have a hard race when winning the French Derby before that from a wide draw.

With 80% of the last 10 winners coming from stalls 4+, then Constitution River’s 3 gate might also be seen as a negative. Item has stall 4.

Aidan will be hunting a 14th win in this race too, but I think Item can sink Constitution River again and certainly looks the better value to me.

As long as Colin Keane can keep him within striking distance turning for home.

Of the rest, A Boy Called Susie looks the scumbag each-way play for a top three finish.

🥇ITEM
🥈Constitution River
🥉A Boy Called Susie

 

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