Irish Champions Weekend: Eyecatchers By Enda McElhinneyA stunning Irish Champions Weekend is in the books after two cracking days of action at Leopardstown and the Curragh. There were some majestic performances across both days. Here we are taking a look at three horses that didn't quite get the job done, but might be worth looking out for next time. Venetian Sun Things didn't pan out for Karl Burke and Clifford Lee with their Royal Ascot-winning filly Venetian Sun on this occasion in the Moyglare Stud Stakes, but it could be just a blip in the road. Precise was the shock winner ahead of Beautify, Ronan Whelan's partner doing best facing into a strong headwind to supplement her Glorious Goodwood win in the Prestige, with favourite Composing only fourth in the end. It was Aidan O'Brien's fifth win in the race since 2015 and it needs noting that Minding (2015), Love (2019) and Lake Victoria (2024) all went on to Classic success the following season for the Ballydoyle chief. Winner of the Prix Morny in France last month to make it 4-4 in her career, Albany Stakes winner was Venetian Sun held up by Lee in this contest and they found themselves in a pocket in the home straight with a trio of Ballydoyle runners giving the filly little assistance. She was outpaced but stayed on to grab third as things didn't go to plan on this day but she will surely have better afternoons. A drop back in trip for the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket over 6f could be next and she remains of major interest. Retracement Quite the finale for Johnny Murtagh on Sunday afternoon at the Curragh as Shaool won the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Northfields Handicap under Ben Coen in good style, with stablemate Retracement finishing fourth with Jamie Powell. The winner could have more to offer but so, too, could this four-year-old gelded son of Australia. The ex-William Haggas inmate was having just his fifth start for Murtagh and only the ninth of his career. Two of his three turf runs for this handler were over shorter trips and he was safely held having been fancied. Here, he was 12/1 and came home strongly after meeting some traffic woes at a crucial stage in the 21-runner Northfields Handicap. He had dropped 5lb in the ratings since arriving in Ireland and he could be on the verge of picking up a prize for his new connections. Caught U Sleeping Noel Meade isn't one for tilting at windmills and so it was interesting to see his Naas maiden winner Caught U Sleeping rocking up in the Listed Ingabelle Stakes that opened the action at Leopardstown on Saturday. She faced some useful rivals stepping up in class, including Aidan O'Brien's Diamond Necklace - now 2-2 and with the Group 1 Fillies' Mile at Newmarket next month as a possible target. She won this race and won it well, but Caught U Sleeping impressed with her effort on her second start. She looked like dropping away at one stage but rallied in good style to take the bronze medal behind UK raider Sukanya. A step up in trip to the mile could be in the offing a similar target to this - without the presence of a Ballydoyle Group 1 winner in the making - should make her a lively contender with further improvement expected.
