THERE’S barely time to draw breath after Irish Champions Festival before the Curragh’s Autumn Racing Weekend is upon us.

The two-day meeting next Saturday and Sunday, September 27th-28th, is now well established in the calendar, with its twin highlights being the Goffs Million and the Friends of the Curragh Irish Cesarewitch.

Off-track, the Curragh team has always gone to great lengths to provide extra entertainment for racegoers and next weekend is no exception, whether you’re a regular racegoer, a sports fanatic or have an interest in the arts.

First let’s focus on Saturday’s racing. Aidan O’Brien has saddled the favourite for the Goffs Million for the past two years but both horses (Cherry Blossom and Antelope Canyon) finished second.

His best two entries this year look to be recent maiden winners Pierre Bonnard and Port Of Spain. Both won over a mile so this would be a step back in trip, which could leave them vulnerable.

The O’Brien-trained Composing would surely start favourite if allowed to take her chance, despite bombing out in last Sunday’s Moyglare Stud Stakes. She raced into a headwind on Sunday and that cannot have been her true running. Judged on her earlier Debutante Stakes win over the Goffs Million course and distance this race is hers for the taking.

Charlie Appleby and Godolphin have entered Rising Power, a €600,000 Wootton Bassett colt who is unbeaten in two starts. However, he has been racing at sprint trips and it seems significant that he has no other big race entries this autumn, so it would seem an unlikely move to run him in this spot.

Serious contenders

Joseph O’Brien, Karl Burke and Johnny Murtagh each look to have serious contenders.

Apples And Bananas won the Million for Joseph O’Brien last year and this year his possible contenders includes recent Group 3 winner Queen Of Hawaii. Her form is working out well but, even though the money on offer here is huge, there must be a chance that connections will skip this race in favour of a tilt at a Group 1 prize. Also, her Group 3 win came over a mile so the shorter distance of this race might work against her.

O’Brien has a definite contender in Summer Is Tomorrow. This hard-knocking colt has raced five times, winning twice and seems to be improving. It’s hard to see him being out of the first six.

Having won a valuable sales race at the Curragh last weekend, Yorkshire trainer Karl Burke must be tempted to have a crack at the Million with Enchant. Another by Wootton Bassett, she only won a three-runner race on her debut at lowly Pontefract in June but the stable has a great line on two-year-old form this season, so it will be significant if she travels.

Like Burke, Johnny Murtagh had a fantastic Irish Champions Festival with three winners and he has being doing well with his juveniles this season too, winning five two-year-old races so far. The highest rated of them is probably Chicago Call, who has been running in stakes races, but his Gowran Park maiden winner Take Charge Star looks to be his strongest Million candidate.

By Starspangledbanner, Take Charge Star defeated a good field at Gowran and he won it well. The Million is his big target and he rates the best bet at this stage.

Of course it’s not impossible that a newcomer could win it, as happened two years ago when One Look won the Million on her racecourse debut for Paddy Twomey. That filly’s original owners, the Connolly family syndicate, have an outside chance this year with Red Earth, trained by Fozzy Stack. He made a nice winning debut at Naas in July but was outclassed in a Group 3 race in August.

THERE are not many races in which Ireland’s top flat and National Hunt trainers take each other on, but the Friends of the Curragh Irish Cesarewitch is one of those contests.

Ever since the two-mile handicap was boosted in value to €600,000, trainer Aidan O’Brien has targeted the race with some high-class three-year-old stayers.

He won it in 2022 with Waterville and again last year with The Euphrates. In between he saddled Tower Of London who went off hot favourite in 2023 but only finished in mid-division. In fairness, it was shortly after the horse had run in the St Leger and he went on to prove himself a very classy stayer with big wins in the Middle East.

So what has he got in the locker for next Sunday? The obvious one is Shackleton, a three-year-old who has shown flashes of ability in Group 1 and Group 2 races, without really threatening. Can he win off a mark of 107? It looks tough as even though he was second to Al Riffa in the Curragh Cup, he was beaten a long way.

Al Riffa’s trainer Joseph O’Brien won this two years ago with the big outsider Magellan Strait and the yard have a very strong team of stayers. Galway Plate disappointment Nurburgring would have a big chance, as would Aeronautic, who was third behind two progressive three-year-olds at Leopardstown last Saturday. Then there’s the old boy Dawn Rising who has been given a chance by the handicapper, and new recruit Small Fry, a shrewd purchase at 100,000gns following his win in a warm Epsom handicap on Derby day.

The two three-year-olds who finished in front of Aeronautic – Happy Pharoah and Light As Air – would both be serious contenders if they make the cut for next Sunday’s race.

Jumps trainers

Willie Mullins has won the Friends of the Curragh Irish Cesarewitch four times in the past 16 years but he doesn’t look to have a particularly strong hand this year. His 2024 Galway amateur handicap winner Sirius would be of interest if she ran.

Mullins did win the Ebor at York last month with Ethical Diamond and, while he is not entered here, the York runner-up Ascending looks to have a major shout. Trained by Henry de Bromhead, Ascending won the Ascot Stakes (2m 4f) at the Royal meeting but showed he is equally effective over a shorter trip when second at York. He’s just 1lb higher here than in the Ebor.

Two recent listed race winners must be mentioned – La Isla Mujeres for Paddy Twomey and the Ross O’Sullivan-trained Chally Chute.

Owned by Moyglare Stud, La Isla Mujeres defeated 14 rivals in her listed race win over a mile and a half at Galway, and she is open to more improvement up in trip to two miles. Chally Chute was making his debut for O’Sullivan when he won a Roscommon listed race at 125/1 and, while the form of that race has not worked out, he too is unexposed for his new yard.

FIVE finalists from Co Kildare will paint live at the Curragh on Saturday, capturing the vibrancy of the raceday. The winning artist will receive a €1,500 commission and have their work displayed at the Curragh throughout 2026.

This year the Curragh is delighted to announce that Artist of the Curragh will be judged by acclaimed Kildare artist Emma Campbell. Emma will be on hand to discuss each artist’s techniques and inspiration behind their piece, before deciding this year’s winner. Based in Kilmeague, Co Kildare, Emma blends contemporary and abstract styles in her paintings, working with both acrylic and oils. Her style explores themes throughout nature and landscapes. Emma told us: “I’m delighted to be judging the competition. It’s a great opportunity for up-and-coming artists and I’m sure there will be fantastic work submitted.”

ONCE again the Curragh has teamed up with Bermingham Cameras to launch ‘Beyond the Finish Line’, a competition which invites amateur photographers to capture the unique bond between horses and humans in Irish racing, focusing on the love, care, and dedication that go into caring for racehorses. Entries closed last Monday and the finalists will have their work exhibited at the Curragh next weekend. There are prizes for first, second and third, and the winners will be revealed on Saturday. Prizes include Canon Pixma and Selphy printers, generously sponsored by Bermingham Cameras.

THE Curragh will host a Sports Hub on Goffs Millions Race Day, offering racegoers the chance to immerse themselves in the excitement of other major sporting events happening across the globe.

Ahead of the Pittsburgh Steelers versus Minnesota Vikings clash at Croke Park next Sunday 28th, fans can step into the shoes of an American Football player and test their skills on the NFL Simulator.

The Ryder Cup kicks off next Friday in New York and to mark the event the Curragh has installed a golf simulator which will allow racegoers to play the same course as the professionals.

A FAMILY favourite, the Goffs Mini Millions, kindly supported by Fitzpatrick’s Mercedes-Benz, is back on Goff’s Millions Race Day. Open to children aged between three and seven, this novelty race offers encourages kids to ‘race’ on foot. The winner gets to “drive” away in a fantastic Bobby Benz, kindly provided by Fitzpatrick’s Mercedes-Benz, with goody bags for the runners-up.

1.25 Kildare House Hotel Maiden

2.00 HearMed Your Health, Your Hearing Joe

McGrath Premier Handicap

2.35 Qatar Racing & Equestrian Beresford Stakes

3.10 Schweppes Trophy Handicap

3.45 Goffs Million

4.15 McDonnells Bar Newbridge Race

4.50 Fitzpatricks Mercedes-Benz Maiden

1.30 Tote Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden

2.05 Fitzpatricks Mercedes-Benz Irish EBF Maiden

2.37 Weld Park Stakes

3.10 Tote Renaissance Stakes

3.47 Keadeen Hotel Nursery

4.22 Friends of the Curragh Irish Cesarewitch

4.57 Tote Moorefield Maiden

5.30 Tote Brownstown Handicap (amateur riders)

GENERAL admission tickets are just €20 for each day next weekend if ordered online (€15 for seniors and young adults). Under 18s are admitted free when accompanied by an adult.

Upgrade options include a €50 day membership which includes reserved parking, admission, racecard and access to the Curragh Member Lounge.

General parking is free at the Curragh and their complimentary return bus will run on a timetable basis from Newbridge and Kildare towns and train stations over the weekend. Timings will be available closer to the day on the ‘How to get there’ tab on the Curragh.ie website.