Several superb performances at the Irish Champions Festival have made a significant impact on the points standings for the Cartier Racing Awards, with Scandinavia and Blue Bolt now firmly in contention to be crowned the Cartier Horse of the Year.

Scandinavia recorded an eighth successive win when comfortably taking the Comer Group International Irish St Leger at the Curragh on Sunday, adding to his victories in the Gold Cup and Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup earlier in the summer.

With 120 points in pattern races this season, the Coolmore-owned four-year-old holds a commanding lead over Caballo De Mar (58) and Betfred St Leger winner Highwayman (48) in the Cartier Stayer division in addition to occupying second in the Cartier Horse of the Year standings.

Blue Bolt (112) has also enjoyed an unbeaten 2026 and the Juddmonte filly followed up her wins in the Tattersalls Sceptre Sessions Falmouth Stakes and Prix Rothschild - World Pool By PMU with a decisive victory in the Coolmore America 'Justify' Matron Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday.

The daughter of Blue Point has moved into a share of third in the Cartier Horse of the Year points and heads the Cartier Older Horse standings from another Andrew Balding-trained contender owned by Juddmonte, Kalpana (96). Daryz (92) and Notable Speech (88) have also advanced their Cartier Older Horse claims thanks to recent respective wins in the Qatar Prix Foy and Woodbine Mile.

Bow Echo (128) continues to head both the Cartier Horse of the Year and Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt points, with three of his main rivals unable to take full advantage following the unbeaten colt’s shock retirement last month.

Constitution River (104) and Item (80) could only finish third and sixth behind older rival Hotazhell (74) in Saturday’s Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes, while Gstaad (104) was third in the Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp earlier in the month.

Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly

Coolmore filly Diamond Necklace (112) remains in front of stablemates Precise (108) and True Love (96) in the Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly division, with Betfred Oaks heroine Thundering On (72) now fourth following her win in the Moyglare “Jewels” Blandford Stakes on Sunday.

Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai July Cup Stakes winner Comanche Brave (83) has taken the lead in the Cartier Sprinter standings following a clear-cut success over American Affair (40) and Rumstar (36) in the BAR 1 Betting Flying Five Stakes on the same Curragh card.

Almeraq (64) is the only other Cartier Sprinter contender to have posted a pair of top-level wins this year, with the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes scorer having stormed to victory in the Betfair Sprint Cup earlier this month.

Folsom Blues (52) is the new leader of the Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt standings following his six-length success in Sunday’s Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes. Darkness Falls (32) also impressed at the Irish Champions Festival as he readily took the HKJC World Pool Golden Fleece Stakes, while Al Hudaiba (44) highlighted his prospects with victory in the Summer Stakes in Canada.

Having beaten Folsom Blues in August’s Keeneland Phoenix Stakes, Sun Goddess (84) posted a second top-level success with a commanding win over Green Empress (40) in the Moyglare Stud Stakes. The Coolmore-owned filly has opened up a clear advantage over Senorita Bonita (56) in the Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly division.