Ruby Walsh tips Tahiyra to shine on Irish Champions Festival opening day

Ruby Walsh is anticipating a high quality field to duke it out on the opening day as the Irish Champions Festival weekend celebrates its 10th anniversary.

There will be six Group One races across the weekend at Leopardstown and the Curragh - live on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player - including the final classic of the season.

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Walsh is expecting a high standard of action at Leopardstown on Saturday.

"Plenty of quality on show," he said. "Tomorrow's Royal Bahrain Irish Champions Stakes, you have Auguste Rodin, King of Steel, Onesta, Nashwa, Al Riffa, Alflaila and Luxembourg.

"They're high-class horses. You'd love to have Ace Impact, Mostahdaf and Paddington. They're not here but you still have a high quality field and it sets up for a really good weekend."

Aside from the Champions Stakes which will be the feature on Saturday, the Matron Stakes also stands out among the races to watch.

"They are two good races. Obviously, Frankie Dettori is in town for his last stint on Irish soil," Walsh said.

"You have Christophe Soumillon coming in to ride Al Riffa and you'll have Ryan Moore on Auguste Rodin and you also have King of Steel who was placed in the Epsom Derby and placed in the King George.

"So the Champions Stakes is a very competitive race, whereas the Matron should be a little bit easier for Tahiyra.

"Her biggest competition will come from her stable companion Homeless Songs. You'd love if Inspiral was here, John Gosden's filly, to take on Tahiyra.

"But Tahiyra has been very good this season and hopefully she can land a Group One for Dermot Weld and Chris Hayes."

Watch the Irish Champions Festival from 2pm on Saturday and 2.15pm on Sunday on RTE2 and RTE Player