Tag Archive for: leopardstown racing tips and trends

2026 Irish Gold Cup Trends

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Staged at Leopardstown racecourse the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup is run over a distance of 3m 1/2f, with 17 fences to be tackled.

First run in 1987, the contest now another recognised trial for the Cheltenham Gold Cup run a month later with Jodami (1993), Imperial Call (1996), Sizing John (2017), Galopin Des Champs (2023 & 2024) the only horses to take both races in the same season.

Leading Irish trainer, Willie Mullins, is always feared as he’s sent out 13 of the last 25 runnings, including 4 of the last 6 renewals (Gordon Elliott the other two), while UK raiders have only taken 2 of the last 17 runnings with popular greys The Listener (2008) and 2012 Grand National hero, Neptune Collonges (2009).

Mullins is back for more in 2026 with his three-time winner Galopin Des Champs back to try and win the race for a fourth time.

If he can win again, he'll join Florid Pearl on four wins in the race.

However, the other main Irish yards of Gordon Elliott (2 wins), despite winning it in 2020 and 2022 and Henry de Bromhead (no wins) are yet to really stamp their mark on this prize the way Willie Mulins has.

Here at GeeGeez, we look back at recent winners and gives you all the key stats to take into the 2026 renewal – this year run on Saturday 31st January.

Recent Irish Gold Cup Winners

2025 - GALOPIN DES CHAMPS (1/2 fav)
2024 - GALOPIN DES CHAMPS (1/3 fav)
2023 – GALOPIN DES CHAMPS (30/100 fav)
2022 – CONFLATED (18/1)
2021 - KEMBOY (11/4)
2020 - DELTA WORK (5/2)
2019 - BELLSHILL (2/1)
2018 - EDWULF (33/1)
2017 - SIZING JOHN (100/30)
2016 – CARLINGFORD LOUGH (20/1)
2015 – CARLINGFORD LOUGH (4/1)
2014 – LAST INSTALMENT (8/1)
2013 – SIR DES CHAMPS (11/8)
2012 – QUEL ESPRIT (5/4 fav)
2011 – KEMPES (5/1)
2010 – JONCOL (9/4 fav)
2009 – NEPTUNE COLLONGES (8/13 fav)
2008 – THE LISTENER (2/1 fav)
2007 – BEEF OR SALMON (11/4)
2006 – BEEF OR SALMON  (2/5 fav)
2005 – RULE SUPREME (11/2)
2004 – FLORIDA PEARL (5/1)
2003 – BEEF OR SALMON (Evs fav)

Irish Gold Cup Betting Trends

23/23 – Had run at Leopardstown over fences before
22/23 – Last ran was 6 weeks or less
20/23 – Had won over at least 3m before in their career (any code)
19/23– Aged 9 or younger
19/23 – Had won a Grade 1 Chase before
17/23 – Ran in the Savills Chase (Leopardstown) last time out
17/23 – Placed favourites
17/23 – Came from the top 3 in the betting
17/23– Winners that went onto run in that season’s Gold Cup (3 winners, Galopin Des Champs 2023, 2024, Sizing John 2017)
16/23 – Had won between 3-5 times over fences (rules) before
15/23 – Had won over fences at Leopardstown before
15/23 – Rated 160 or higher
15/23 – Placed in the top 3 last time out
14/23 – Irish-bred
13/23 – Winning distance – 3 lengths or more
10/23 – Trained by Willie Mullins (14 wins in total)
10/23 – Won last time out
9/23 – Winning favourites
5/23 – Won by a previous winner of the race
2/23 – Won by a UK-based trainer
The average winning SP in the last 22 runnings is 5/1

 

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2026 Irish Champion Hurdle Trends

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The Irish Champion Hurdle is a Grade One race run over 2m and held at Leopardstown racecourse each year in early February.

In recent years, top hurdlers like Istabraq, Hardy Eustace, Brave Inca, and, more recently, Hurricane Fly, Honeysuckle and State Man have graced the roll of honour.

While it's a race that has always been a decent guide ahead of the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival with State Man in 2024 the most recent horse win win both races in the same season.

Top Irish trainer Willie Mullins has won 9 of the last 15 runnings, including 12 months ago again with State Man, who was winning the race for a third time.

It’s also been a big race for punters in recent years with 14 of the last 16 Irish Champion Hurdle favourites winning! The only non-favourites to win was Supasundae in 2018 - when he beat the jolly Faugheen - and last year when State Man won at 5/4 after 8/11 shot Lossiemouth fell.

Here at GeeGeez we are on hand with all the key stats ahead of the 2026 renewal – this year staged on Sunday 1st February.

Recent Irish Champion Hurdle Winners

2025 - STATE MAN (5/4 fav)
2024 - STATE MAN (2/5 fav)
2023 – STATE MAN (6/5 Fav)
2022 - HONEYSUCKLE (1/5 fav)
2021 - HONEYSUCKLE (10/11 fav)
2020 – HONEYSUCKLE (8/11 fav)
2019 – APPLE’S JADE (8/11 fav)
2018 – SUPASUNDAE (8/1)
2017 – PETIT MOUCHOIR (9/10 fav)
2016 – FAUGHEEN (3/10 fav)
2015 – HURRICANE FLY (11/10 fav)
2014 – HURRICANE FLY (4/7 fav)
2013 – HURRICANE FLY (1/6 fav)
2012 – HURRICANE FLY (4/5 fav)
2011 – HURRICANE FLY (4/9 fav)
2010 - SOLWHIT (5/6 fav)
2009 – BRAVE INCA (11/4)
2008 – SIZING EUROPE (10/3)
2007 – HARDY EUSTACE (9/1)
2006 – BRACE INCA (6/5 fav)
2005 – MACS JOY (11/8 fav)
2004 – FOREMAN (8/1)

Key Irish Champion Hurdle Trends

21/22 – Placed in the top three last time
19/22 – Raced within the last 2 months
19/22 – Had won at Leopardstown before
19/22 – Returned 10/3 or shorter in the betting
19/22 – Rated 158 or higher
18/22 – Winning distance – 1 length or more
17/22 – Won last time out
16/22 – Winning favourites
15/22 – Went onto finish in the top six of that season’s Champion Hurdle
14/22 – Raced within the last 5 weeks
14/22 – Raced at Leopardstown last time out
11/22 – Irish bred
9/22 – Trained by Willie Mullins (9 of last 15 runnings & 9 in total)
5/22 - Trained by Henry De Bromhead (4 of the last 9 runnings)
6/22 – Went onto win the Champion Hurdle
3 of the last 17 winners were second season hurdlers
The average winning SP in the last 23 runnings is 13/8

 

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2025 Irish Champion Stakes Trends

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The Group One Irish Champion Stakes is staged at Leopardstown racecourse and run over a distance of 1m2f.

In recent years, the race has been dominated by trainer Aiden O’Brien – he’s won the race 12 times since 2000, including in 5 of the last six years - can he make it 13?

Here at Geegeez we are on hand with all the key stats ahead of the 2025 renewal - this year run on Saturday 13th September.

Irish Champion Stakes Recent Winners

2024 - Economics (7/4 fav)
2023 - Auguste Rodin (11/4 fav)
2022 – Luxembourg (7/2)
2021 – St Mark’s Basilica (5/6 fav)
2020 - Magical (9/2)
2019 – Magical (11/10 fav)
2018 – Roaring Lion (8/11 fav)
2017 – Decorated Knight (25/1)
2016 – Almanzor (7/1)
2015 – Golden Horn (5/4 fav)
2014 – The Grey Gatsby (7/1)
2013 – The Fugue (4/1)
2012 – Snow Fairy (15/8)
2011 – So You Think (1/4 fav)
2010 – Cape Blanco (6/1)
2009 – Sea The Stars (4/6 fav)
2008 – New Approach (8/13 fav)
2007 – Dylan Thomas (8/15 fav)
2006 – Dylan Thomas (13/8 fav)
2005 – Oratorio (7/1)
2004 – Azamour (8/1)
2003 – High Chaparral (4/1)

Irish Champion Stakes Betting Trends

22/23 – Previous Group 1 winner
22/23 – Returned 8/1 or shorter in the betting
20/23 – Won 4 or more times before
20/23 – Had won over 1m2f before
19/23 – Finished in the top 3 last time out
19/23 – Aged 3 or 4 years-old
18/23 – Ran at York, Sandown or Ascot last time out
17/23 – Rated 120+
17/23 – Placed favourites
15/23 – Had 4 or more previous runs that season
14/23 – Trained in Ireland
14/23 – Aged 3 years-old
12/23 – Won last time out
11/23 – Trained by Aidan O’Brien (12 wins in total)
11/23 – Winning favourites
9/23 – Previous course winners
6/23 – Returned odds-on
5/23 – Ridden by Ryan Moore (5 of the last 11)
3/23 – Trained by John Gosden (3 of the last 12)
3/23– Ridden by Seamie Heffernan
3/23 – Won the Coral Eclipse last time out
The average winning SP in the last 23 years is 4/1

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