September 14 / 16.25 Curragh

16.25

Good To Yielding

Comer Group International Irish St. Leger (Group 1)

  • Prize money: £235537.19
  • 1m 6f 0y
  • 9 runners
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Comer Group International Irish St. Leger (Group 1)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

9/4 (Won)

  • Win: £4.00
  • Place: £1.55

Form: 0-3421 CD

Last run: 57 days

W: 9st 10lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Three-time winner here including 5L success in Group 2 Curragh Cup in July on latest; Group 1 winner as a 2yo and 3yo, acts on easy ground and looks a deserved favourite on his way to a likely Melbourne Cup bid.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

(8)

18th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 3f 210y

Class 1

16:15 Ascot

Al Riffa

9st 4lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Second at last year's Royal Ascot in the 1m4f Hardwicke and 4l winner of the 1m6f Irish St Leger; ran on strongly from out the back when seventh in the Melbourne Cup (2m) in November and ended up third to Caballo De Mar in blanket finish to a Longchamp Group 1 (nearly 2m) four weeks ago, having been last of nine 2f out; those do not mean he's an assured stayer on this move up to 2m4f but he brings among the best form and has to enter calculations.

8/1

7/2

  • Place: £1.55

Form: 11-111

Last run: 86 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Sole 3yo runner and a smart one at that, unbeaten in five career starts, notably this year twice at Goodwood and when showing good attitude to hold off subsequent Group 3 winner Zahrann in 1m4f Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot; has had a break since and unknown territory here in terms of trip and ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

(12)

20th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 1

15:05 Ascot

Amiloc

9st 3lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ralph Beckett

Unraced on ground slower than good to yielding; disappointing favourite in the Yorkshire Cup on reappearance but that's his only blip in an otherwise progressive career; justified favouritism in the King Edward VII Stakes over C&D at this meeting (good to firm) 12 months ago, taking record at that time to 5-5, then ran well in the Irish St Leger and Breeders' Cup Turf; possibilities, provided his upward trajectory is resumed.

16/1

6th

2

(2)

15th May 2026

Good

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

16:05 York

Amiloc

9st 3lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ralph Beckett

Seven races and improved with each one; raised to Group 1 last autumn for his only defeats, when second in the 1m6f Irish St Leger and fourth in the 1m4f Breeders' Cup Turf; one of the top two on form and should have a big shout.

6/4

2nd

9

(3)

14th Sep 2025

Good To Yielding

1m 6f 0y

16:25 Curragh

Amiloc

9st 2lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ralph Beckett

Sole 3yo runner and a smart one at that, unbeaten in five career starts, notably this year twice at Goodwood and when showing good attitude to hold off subsequent Group 3 winner Zahrann in 1m4f Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot; has had a break since and unknown territory here in terms of trip and ground.

7/2

8/1

  • Place: £2.55

Form: 312114 D

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Front-running 6yo who has pulled out more time and time again, with 11 wins now to his credit; three of them were this season at today's trip, twice at Listed level and Group 3 John Smith's Silver Cup at York; unable to dominate at same venue on latest when fourth in Group 2 Lonsdale Stakes over 2m; has fallen short at Group 1 level in the past but deserves his place.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

(5)

13th Jun 2026

Good

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

15:00 York

Al Qareem

9st 7lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Uncharacteristically below par when well beaten at Chester last month and the track wasn't an excuse; four Group 3/Listed wins last year, including when making all in this under a 5lb penalty (same today), and he reappeared with a Listed win at Musselburgh in April; leading claims if back on song.

2/1

5th

2

(8)

7th May 2026

Good

1m 5f 84y

Class 1

15:05 Chester

Al Qareem

9st 5lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Justified favouritism in Listed grade at Musselburgh (1m6f, soft) on seasonal debut, making it five wins from his last nine starts and taking overall record to 13-36; Chester record reads 112, most recently running creditably in this race 12 months ago; again likely to give his running.

9/1

1st

1

(5)

4th Apr 2026

Good

1m 5f 216y

Class 1

14:30 Musselburgh

Al Qareem

9st 7lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Front-runner who keeps pulling out more, with 12 wins; the four last season (April-October) included career-best form; unraced here; has never won first time out but he has run creditably and is the clear form pick.

4/5

50/1

Form: -23351 D

Last run: 35 days

W: 9st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
German challenger is 4-33, most recently winning a Hoppegarten Listed over this trip last month; overall form leaves him with a fair bit to find though.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

8

(9)

14th Sep 2025

Good To Yielding

1m 6f 0y

16:25 Curragh

Waldadler

9st 10lb

J: David Liska

T: P Vovcenko

German challenger is 4-33, most recently winning a Hoppegarten Listed over this trip last month; overall form leaves him with a fair bit to find though.

50/1

6th

6

(7)

15th Sep 2024

Good

1m 6f 0y

16:45 Curragh

Waldadler

9st 11lb

J: Seamie Heffernan

T: P Vovcenko

took keen hold, towards rear

33/1

OUR TIP

12/1

Form: 111-42 C

Last run: 38 days

W: 9st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Highly progressive in winning all four starts last year, including twice in Curragh handicaps and Group 3 at Leopardstown (1m4f); very light campaign this year, inadequate trip on return before close second to an all-the-way winner in Group 3 Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown last month; first attempt at 1m6f here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

(1)

14th Sep 2025

Good To Yielding

1m 6f 0y

16:25 Curragh

Crystal Black

9st 10lb

J: Colin Keane

T: Gerard Keane

Highly progressive in winning all four starts last year, including twice in Curragh handicaps and Group 3 at Leopardstown (1m4f); very light campaign this year, inadequate trip on return before close second to an all-the-way winner in Group 3 Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown last month; first attempt at 1m6f here.

12/1

1

(3)

7th Aug 2025

Good

1m 4f 0y

18:53 Leopardstown

Crystal Black

9st 9lb

J: Colin Keane

T: Gerard Keane

Highly progressive in winning all four starts last year, starting in Curragh handicaps at 1m and 1m2f; even better at 1m4f, landing Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot and taking this race by 5l from subsequent Irish Cesarewitch winner The Euphrates; should be sharper than when one place behind Sons And Lovers over 1m2f at the Curragh in April.

5/4

4th

4

(1)

12th Apr 2025

Good

1m 2f 0y

16:35 Curragh

Crystal Black

9st 8lb

J: Colin Keane

T: Gerard Keane

raced in fourth, brief headway and went third under 2f out, no extra and lost third towards finish

5/2

33/1

Form: 00-663 C

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 10lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Sole win (11 races) was a 2023 maiden; career-best on latest when third in Ebor Handicap (York) but has fallen short at Group level in the past and likely to do so again here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

(11)

28th Sep 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 170y

16:22 Curragh

Queenstown

10st 1lb

J: Ronan Whelan

T: A P O’Brien

Second of three for yard; ran a solid race off 2lb lower in the Ebor at York in August, staying on for a 3l third (0.5l behind Ascending); predictably came up short in the St Leger here on latest but he could bounce back returned to handicap company.

20/1

6th

7

(4)

14th Sep 2025

Good To Yielding

1m 6f 0y

16:25 Curragh

Queenstown

9st 10lb

J: Ronan Whelan

T: A P O’Brien

Sole win (11 races) was a 2023 maiden; career-best on latest when third in Ebor Handicap (York) but has fallen short at Group level in the past and likely to do so again here.

33/1

3rd

4

(5)

23rd Aug 2025

Good To Firm

1m 5f 188y

Class 2

15:35 York

Queenstown

9st 8lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Sole win (ten races) was a 2023 maiden; twice second to star stayer Kyprios over 1m6f in spring 2024 and Curragh Group 2 on latest outing was up with his best form, albeit finishing only sixth of seven; last year's 17th in the Ebor and 11th in the Cesarewitch, both off only 3lb higher than today, suggest it is best to turn elsewhere despite his illustrious connections.

12/1

Form: 21-122 C BF

Last run: 47 days

W: 9st 10lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Very consistent high-class stayer; narrowly beaten in last year's St Leger at Doncaster and beat Al Qareem on seasonal return in Ormonde Stakes (Chester) before second placings in both Ascot Gold Cup and when outstayed by stablemate Scandinavia in 2m Goodwood Cup, having made the running; cheekpieces now tried and big player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

8

(13)

20th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 5f 143y

Class 2

18:10 Ascot

Illinois

9st 4lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Finished runner-up in last year's Gold Cup here (good to firm) and second again in the Goodwood version (2m, good), only narrowly failing to concede 14lb to Scandinavia; crystal clear claims on these favourable terms if returning to that level of form but he wasn't at his best when bidding for a second Ormonde at Chester and ran abysmally in the recent Coronation Cup when under the pump from a worryingly early stage (unwise to blame the rain-hit ground when he has soft-ground form); hard to dismiss but in equal measure he's hard to trust.

3/1

6th

4

(5)

6th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 4f 6y

Class 1

14:40 Epsom

Illinois

9st 2lb

J: Ronan Whelan

T: A P O’Brien

Runner-up in two Cup races last term; only a neck behind stablemate Jan Brueghel in the 2024 St Leger but was beaten about 5l by that opponent last month when bidding for a second success in the Ormonde at Chester, doing nothing to close their current ratings differential; perhaps in here to set the pace and ensure a proper test.

40/1

50/1

Form: 462342

Last run: 29 days

W: 9st 10lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Won heavy ground 1m2f Group 3 at Leopardstown in April 2024 but hasn't added to that, most recently readily outstayed by 4.25l winner Leinster in Leger Trial over C&D last month, having forced it; hard to fancy.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

(4)

20th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 5f 143y

Class 2

18:10 Ascot

Dallas Star

9st 4lb

J: David Egan

T: Robson De Aguiar

Group 3 winner over 1m2f at three; his losing run of 13 includes a fading fourth in this last year (good to firm); likely flattered by his close proximity to Scandinavia in a 1m6f Listed race in April and hasn't fared so well since; even if back on song, this is a tough place for front-runners.

20/1

4th

3

(5)

29th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

18:50 Down Royal

Dallas Star

9st 6lb

J: Donagh O’Connor

T: Robson De Aguiar

Won 1m2f Group 3 Ballysax Stakes in 2024 (1m2f, heavy); last win was at Dundalk early last year, having faced some stiff tasks since, career-best when front-running second to ready winner Scandinavia in Navan Listed last month; not as good behind same rival since under similar tactics in Group 3 Saval Beg; bit to find on ratings and step up to 2m looks a big ask.

10/1

Form: 3-1441 CD

Last run: 29 days

W: 9st 10lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Stepped outside of handicap company to land 4-runner St Leger Trial over C&D last month, readily brushing aside front-running Dallas Star final furlong; lot more on his plate here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

(4)

19th Jun 2026

Good To Yielding

1m 4f 70y

19:02 Limerick

Leinster

9st 12lb

J: J M Sheridan

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Fourth in Chester Cup and Ascot Stakes last season; won four-runner St Leger Trial at the Curragh in August; failed to do himself justice when tailed off in Irish St Leger; made late progress into fourth behind Scandinavia at Navan on return; ran to a similar level when fourth of six in Group 3 Saval Beg at Leopardstown; should be sharper now.

12/1

4th

2

(4)

15th May 2026

Good

1m 6f 0y

19:22 Leopardstown

Leinster

9st 8lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Fourth in Chester Cup and Ascot Stakes last season, won a four-runner St Leger Trial at the Curragh in August, readily brushing aside front-running Dallas Star; failed to do himself justice when tailed off in the Irish St Leger, made late progress into fourth behind Scandinavia at Navan on return; should be sharper now and may reverse form with runner-up Dallas Star.

8/1

4th

3

(3)

25th Apr 2026

Yielding

1m 6f 0y

15:05 Navan

Leinster

9st 8lb

J: Ronan Whelan

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Stepped outside of handicap company (fourth in Chester Cup and in Ascot Stakes) to win a four-runner St Leger Trial at the Curragh last August, readily brushing aside front-running Dallas Star in the final furlong; faced a very stiff task but ran no sort of race when tailed off in the Irish St Leger.

14/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €14.60
Straight Forecast €9.42
Tricast €61.23
Trifecta €63.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Al Riffa

The Irish Sun:

Amiloc

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Al Riffa

TOPSPEED:

Al Riffa

POSTDATA:

Al Riffa