The Irish St Leger is one of the defining staying races of the Irish Flat season and the final Classic on the Irish calendar. It is staged at the Curragh and serves as the headline race on the second day of Irish Champions Festival.
2026 Irish St Leger
Race day update: Scandinavia won the 2026 Irish St Leger at the Curragh, defeating Queenstown by two lengths with Jan Brueghel third. Seven runners competed in the €500,000 Group 1 over one mile and six furlongs. Read the full Irish St Leger result recap.
The 2026 Irish St Leger was run on Sunday, September 13 at the Curragh. The current racecard lists the Group 1 over one mile and six furlongs with a €500,000 purse for horses aged three and older.
Seven runners are declared on the current racecard. Scandinavia brings the strongest recent staying profile after wins in the Ascot Gold Cup and Goodwood Cup. Jan Brueghel, the 2024 Doncaster St Leger winner, is another proven top level stayer, while Trustyourinstinct arrives after winning the Curragh Cup.
Why the race matters
The Irish St Leger differs from several other European Classics because older horses can compete. That allows established stayers to meet the newest generation over a demanding one mile and six furlong distance.
The race also sits at an important point in the international season. Strong performances can shape plans for autumn staying targets and major events such as the Melbourne Cup. The 2025 winner Al Riffa was subsequently pointed toward Melbourne, reinforcing the connection between the Curragh race and the wider global staying program.
Recent Irish St Leger winners
Al Riffa won the 2025 edition by four lengths. Kyprios won in 2024, adding another major staying success to a career that also included multiple Ascot Gold Cup victories. Vinnie Roe remains one of the race’s most celebrated modern champions after winning four consecutive editions from 2001 through 2004.
Irish Champions Festival context
The Curragh hosts four Group 1 races on September 13 as Irish Champions Festival concludes. The Irish St Leger is the stamina centerpiece of the card, complementing championship races for sprinters and two year olds.
For the broader festival picture, see the Irish Champions Festival 2026 Guide and OTB Bet’s Irish Champion Stakes hub. International turf followers can also track the Breeders’ Cup Turf, Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and Japan Cup.
What OTB Bet will update
This page is the permanent Irish St Leger hub. OTB Bet will update it with confirmed fields, results and major race developments while keeping temporary news and recap coverage in the News section.
Sources: Irish Champions Festival, the Curragh and Irish Racing. Featured photo by Lumin Osity on Unsplash.