THREE Group 1 juvenile contests were part of the Irish Champions Festival 2026, and all were won in grand fashion. Sun Goddess took the Moyglare Stud Stakes by six and a half lengths, Folsom Blues won the National Stakes by six, while Darkness Falls won the newly-upgraded Golden Fleece Stakes by a more modest four and a quarter lengths.

I am saying this tongue in cheek of course, as Darkness Falls is already the 2027 Derby favourite with many bookies, and the manner of his victory, just two weeks after running out a seven-length winner of a Curragh maiden, was visually so impressive, and the step up to nine furlongs was no issue. Aidan O’Brien won this race three times in the previous four years, with Auguste Rodin, Diego Velazquez and Benvenuto Cellini.