IRISH Champions Festival features prominently among the highlights of Johnny Murtagh’s 10-year training career. Success with Champers Elysees in the Matron Stakes in 2020 was his first Group 1 win as a trainer and Sonnyboyliston gave him an Irish St Leger win the following year.

As a jockey, succcess also came regularly at the highest level for Murtagh in the famous Aga Khan green silks, with the likes of Sinndar, Alamshar and Enzeli. Today, he saddles his three-year-old colt Zahrann in those familiar colours, to take on the best in the Royal Bahrain Irish Champions Stakes.