The Irish Champions Festival kicks off at Leopardstown this Saturday with a full nine-race card, complete with World Pool betting facilities. The highlight is the Group One Irish Champion Stakes, widely regarded as one of the finest middle-distance contests on turf anywhere. As racegoers and punters prepare for a day of elite flat racing, two horses stand out for their potential to deliver value: ANMAAT in the feature Irish Champion Stakes, and AERONAUTIC in the Pertingo Handicap.
Anmaat’s credentials in the Irish Champion Stakes (5.30pm)
ANMAAT, aged seven, arrives at Leopardstown in rude health and on ground ideally suited to his best performances. Trained by Owen Burrows, he achieved his career-defining victory in last year’s British Champion Stakes at Ascot, defeating high-class rivals such as Calandagan with aplomb on testing ground.
This season, Anmaat has already shown he retains his class despite facing younger opponents. In May’s Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh, he chased home the reigning Arc runner-up Los Angeles by a narrow margin, despite slightly quicker underfoot conditions. His latest outing in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot saw him finish a close second to Ombudsman, again on ground faster than optimal for his style. Closing within two lengths of such a formidable rival suggests Anmaat remains on a par with the current top tier.
Stepping back onto softer ground in Dublin gives Anmaat a significant edge. His proven ability on yielding conditions—demonstrated in both his Ascot Group One win and his strong showing at the Curragh—marks him out as an ideal candidate to thrive at Leopardstown. As a three-year-old in 2024, Delacroix received six pounds from his elders under weight-for-age allowances, but Anmaat may represent better value in the World Pool’s Win and Place markets, especially at the odds currently on offer.
Aeronautic’s appeal in the Pertingo Handicap (6.05pm)
Later in the evening, attention turns to the Pertingo Handicap over a mile, a notoriously tricky heat when it comes to forecasting in a big-field contest. Joseph O’Brien’s AERONAUTIC is a four-year-old with a reputation for pulling hard early, but his raw ability has shone through when he can settle.
At Goodwood in August, Aeronautic travelled with far too much zest before hitting the front a furlong out in a competitive handicap over seven furlongs. He was reeled in late, beaten by less than a length, but his performance suggested that better race tactics—namely settling prominently yet patiently—could see him go one better.
Rated just one pound higher for that effort, Aeronautic is worth another chance on calmer terms and slightly softer Irish ground. At Leopardstown, a more restrained front-end approach should allow him to conserve energy before launching a strong late bid. Backed in Win and Place betting, he could reward supporters willing to overlook his tendency to jump out of the stalls early.
Key pointers for Saturday’s card
- 5.30pm Irish Champion Stakes: ANMAAT – expect him to relish softer turf and outstay his rivals.
- 6.05pm Pertingo Handicap: AERONAUTIC – a placidly hustled run could unlock a first victory after runner-up finishes.
Leopardstown’s nine-race schedule blends international quality with competitive handicaps, making it a must-watch for racing fans. Whether you’re assessing classic middle-distance form or unearthing value in big-field events, ANMAAT and AERONAUTIC represent intriguing betting propositions via World Pool’s Win and Place markets.