Ruby Walsh: Porta Fortuna looks banker material in Matron Stakes 

The next two days are undoubtedly the showcase events for Ireland, and they have elevated themselves to where they should be in the global Flat racing programme.

Porta Fortuna should prove a tough nut to crack in the Matron Stakes. Picture: Healy Racing

Autumn has well and truly set in, yet the summer sport of Flat racing is only reaching its pinnacle here in Ireland this weekend. It reached its climax in the UK at York in August after the summer highlights of Royal Ascot and Goodwood, and while Deauville flew the French flag through those months, its peak is still a bit away when the Arc weekend rounds it off in October.

The next two days are undoubtedly the showcase events for the sport here, and they have elevated themselves to where they should be in the global Flat racing programme. Any meeting run in a particular country should be top-heavy with local talent, but the spice to make it extra-enjoyable comes from international participation, the clatter of UK runners, two Germans, and a pair of Japanese entries sprinkled across the 17 races to be run today and tomorrow for over €5m in total prize money elevate the Irish Champions Festival.