'He remains unbeaten in five starts' - Irish St Leger runner-by-runner guide It's a feast of Group 1 action from the Curragh on Sunday as the second afternoon of the Irish Champions Festival takes place at the Kildare circuit. Amongst the top level races is the all-aged Irish St Leger at 4.25 and a field of nine have been declared for the Comer Group International-backed contest, boasting a top prize of almost €290,000. We take a closer look at the nine contenders for the Irish St Leger. Al Qareem One of two British-based raiders. Karl Burke's Awtaad gelding has plenty of experience and has won Listed/Group 3 races at York over this sort of trip in recent months. Not disgraced in last month's Yorkshire Cup over further, but this demands a career-best. Al Riffa Joseph O'Brien has always had strong faith in this Wootton Bassett colt and perhaps he's going to deliver on that promise now as a stayer. Second in the Hardwicke at Royal Ascot, he relished the step to this trip when easily winning a C&D Group 2 in July. Crystal Black Winner of all four starts in 2024, his standout year, he was well held here over 1m2f on comeback in April but ran a good race in a 1m4f Leopardstown Group 3 last month on his only start since. Likely needs improvement for the step up in distance, however. Dallas Star A UK import for Adrian Murray whose claim to fame is running Kyprios close in the Levmoss Stakes over C&D last year, but he was over four lengths behind Leinster in a trial for this last month and has plenty on his plate. Illinois Galileo colt won the Ormonde Stakes at Chester on comeback in May and was then a distant second behind Trawlerman in the Ascot Gold Cup in June. Close second to stablemate Scandinavia in the Goodwood Cup in one run since, with that rival favourite for the St. Leger at Doncaster on Saturday. Leinster Too good for Dallas Star over course and distance in last month's trial for this race. He has lots of stamina on his side but will have to improve again to land this. Al Riffa appears to be the stable's first string. Queenstown A gelding by Galileo, strike-rate is just 1-11 and that was a maiden over 1m4f on heavy ground in November 2023. Third in the Ebor at York over this trip on his most recent outing, possibly a career-best, but has ground to find with Al Riffa on their previous tussle here. Waldadler German-based six-year-old comes here in winning form but hard to imagine he's up to the challenge if these rivals run to form. Amiloc Ralph Beckett's son of Postponed won the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot in June and remains unbeaten after five starts. Progressive sort, given a break since and now upped in trip/class on first venture out of Britain.
