Christmas Day bids to end 39-year Derby-Leger double drought and Irish Champion Stakes brings York rematch in unmissable week

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One of Flat racing's biggest weekends is just days away, with Classics and Group 1s happening on both sides of the Irish Sea. The Betfred St Leger and the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes are the feature events, but there are also big-name races for fillies and mares, and for the two-year-olds who will make up next year's Classic generation.

At Doncaster, Leopardstown and the Curragh, every race is one to get excited about. Even the handicaps will be among the year's most competitive and memorable; getting the winner of any of them should be a source of pride for the whole of the next week.

Time for Christmas?

The surprisingly poor record of Derby winners in the St Leger will be in focus again on Saturday as Christmas Day seeks a second moment of Classic glory at Doncaster. Aidan O'Brien's star is 7-4 favourite to complete a double that has not been achieved since Reference Point in 1987.