Irish St Leger 2025 Tips & Full Race Preview – Al Riffa Can Take The Crown

The second afternoon of the Irish Champions Festival takes place at the Curragh on Sunday afternoon and the collection of Group 1 races includes the Comer Group International Irish St Leger.

The all-aged Irish St Leger is run over a mile-and-three-quarters and has been won a record nine times by iconic trainers Vincent O'Brien and Dermot Weld, with Aidan O'Brien closing in after Kyprios gave him his seventh win 12 months ago.

Irish St Leger Predictions

Overlooking Illinois isn't straightforward. His silver medal in the Goodwood Cup last time out could look a whole lot more handsome by the time he lines up here if stablemate Scandinavia does the business at Doncaster on Saturday.

Aidan O'Brien may be undone by his son, Joseph, who saddles Al Riffa here. Always well thought of, the Wootton Bassett colt appears on course to fulfil his potential as a stayer based on his impressive Group 2 win over track and trip in July. There could be plenty more to come.

Leinster won a trial for this in decisive fashion four weeks ago, beating Dallas Star, and could be overpriced. UK contender Amiloc is yet to sample defeat but Ralph Beckett's gelding is rising in class and distance now and will do well to fend off the home team on their own patch.

·         Race winner: Al Riffa

·         Outsider to watch: Leinster

·         1-2-3 prediction: 1st: Al Riffa, 2nd: Illinois, 3rd: Leinster

Key Runners & Form Analysis

Al Riffa: Joseph O'Brien has always had strong faith in this colt and perhaps he's going to deliver on that promise now as a stayer. Second in the Hardwicke at Royal Ascot, he relished the step to this trip when easily winning a C&D Group 2 in July.

Illinois: Galileo colt won the Ormonde Stakes at Chester on comeback in May and second since in the Ascot Gold Cup behind Trawlerman in June and then behind stablemate Scandinavia in the Goodwood Cup in July.

Amiloc: Ralph Beckett's son of Postponed won the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot in June and remains unbeaten after five starts.

Leinster: Too good for Dallas Star over course and distance in last month's trial for this race. He has lots of stamina on his side but will have to improve again to land this.