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Leopardstown Tips on September 13th - Irish Champions Weekend 2025 Day 1 Selections

Jon Vine

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Last updated: Fri 12 Sep 2025 14:26

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Jon Vine 12 Sep 2025

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Leopardstown opens Irish Champions Weekend 2025 with major races
Top tips: Tribal Nation (Sovereign Path), Reyenzi (CMG Group), Cercene (Matron), Scorthy Champ (Solonaway)
Follow live for more insights and watch races via live stream links

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Leopardstown races. (Getty)

Leopardstown Tips

2:50pm Leopardstown - Sovereign Path Handicap Tips
3:50pm Leopardstown - CMG Group Stakes Tips
4:25pm Leopardstown - Matron Stakes Tips
4:55pm Leopardstown - Solonaway Stakes Tips
5:30pm Leopardstown - Irish Champion Stakes Tips

Irish Champions Weekend 2025 begins at Leopardstown on Saturday. The Irish Champion Stakes headlines a cracking opening card, which features a second Group One - the Matron Stakes - several other pattern races and a couple of competitive handicaps.

Here are my best betting tips for day one of Irish Champions Weekend at Leopardstown.

Irish Champions Weekend 2025 Day 1 Tips

2:50pm Leopardstown - Sovereign Path Handicap Tips

Only three of the last 20 winners of this seven-furlong handicap have been drawn lower than stall nine. Three and four-year-olds have also dominated recent renewals of the Sovereign Path too, so one who fits the bill perfectly is TRIBAL NATION (12/1).

Joseph O'Brien's youngster is yet to win this season, but has run some good races in defeat. Tribal Nation finished third in a handicap at Naas in April, and wasn't beaten far when sixth in the Britannia at Royal Ascot.

Dylan Browne McMonagle's mount won struggled badly as the 1/3 favourite on his most recent outing, and Tribal Nation has been given a good break and gelded since. Dropping back to seven furlongs seems like a sensible move and slower ground should suit this son of Wootton Bassett.

3:50pm Leopardstown - CMG Group Stakes Tips

I'm going to roll the dice with REYENZI (20/1) in this competitive Group Three. Johnny Murtagh's youngster won easily on his reappearance on soft ground, and looking to have landed the Gallinule Stakes on his next start, but was relegated to third in the steward's room having deemed to have caused interference.

Reyenzi floundered on fast ground at Royal Ascot, and probably hit the front too soon when run down by Cap Saint Martin in a handicap at Naas last time out. Murtagh has fitted a first-time hood for Reyenzi's first crack at 12 furlongs. Given his breeding and style of running, I'm hopeful that he'll improve for this step up in trip and softer ground this weekend will certainly suit.

cercene ascot — Gary Carroll riding Cercene (yellow) win The Coronation Stakes on day four during Royal Ascot 2025. (Getty)

4:25pm Leopardstown - Matron Stakes Tips

On all known form, the top three look clear of the field in the opening Group One of the weekend. Fallen Angel and January square off again - after being separated by just a head in the Prix Rothschild - but I feel that CERCENE (5/1) has been a little overlooked in the market.

Cercene handed Joseph Murphy the biggest win of his training career at Royal Ascot, when landing the Coronation Stakes. Gary Carroll's mount rallied brilliantly after being passed, and held on gamely to repel the charging Zarigana, comfortably seeing off January and Cathedral in the process.

Murphy's filly lost nothing in defeat when second to Whirl on her most recent start in the Nassau Stakes. Cercene has a three-year-old allowance on her side as she drops back down to a mile, and she won't be inconvenienced by soft ground.

4:55pm Leopardstown - Solonaway Stakes Tips

Few bring outstanding claims into this Group Two, so I'm going to take a chance on SCORTHY CHAMP (8/1). Joseph O'Brien's star won the National Stakes on his final two-year-old start, but has failed to set the world alight during 2025.

Scorthy Champ ran in both the British and Irish 2000 Guineas during the spring, but failed to feature in either contest. Dylan Browne McMonagle then experimented with front-running tactics over ten furlongs in the Prix Eugene Adam at Saint-Cloud, where Scorthy Champ faded late on to eventually finish fifth.

McMonagle won't need to lead, as there are plenty of potential front-runners in the field. Hopefully, the return to a mile and genuine autumn ground will spark a revival for this former Group One winner.

5:30pm Leopardstown - Irish Champion Stakes Tips

Read our full guide to the 2025 Irish Champion Stakes to find out who we've backed in Saturday's main event at Leopardstown.

Visit our Irish Champion Stakes Live Stream page to watch any of Saturday's races at Leopardstown via a mobile or tablet.

Verdict

ICW 2025 Day 1 Tips

Saturday's Tips for Leopardstown:

Cercene

4:25pm Leopardstown

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Scorthy Champ

4:55pm Leopardstown

@8/1 - 5 Units

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Bet at bet365

Tribal Nation E/W

2:50pm Leopardstown

@12/1 - 5 Units

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Reyenzi E/W

3:50pm Leopardstown

@20/1 - 5 Units

£30 Free Bet

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