The K Club will be hosting the tournament for the first time, but the Palmer South Course, which was previously known as the Smurfit Course, hosted the European Open three times at the start of the century.

More than 120 players from over 30 nations will compete on this Ladies European Tour (LET) event which runs until Sunday.

As in previous years, Cavan’s Leona Maguire will spearhead the home challenge, which this time will consist of 16 Irish players – the highest in the tournament’s recent history.

Maguire will be strongly backed up by the likes of Áine Donegan, Anna Foster, Beth Coulter and Lauren Walsh, as they all bid to become the first Irish winner of the KPMG Women’s Irish Open.

Commenting on the strength and depth of the 2026 field, Ryan McCarthy, Managing Partner, KPMG in Ireland, said:

“The strength and international depth of this year’s field is a reflection of how far the KPMG Women’s Irish Open has come in a relatively short period of time. As proud sponsors of ambition, we are delighted to see some of the world’s best players competing alongside emerging talent and a record contingent of 16 Irish golfers. The championship continues to provide an important platform to inspire the next generation, showcase Ireland on the global stage, and celebrate the continued growth of women’s golf. We look forward to welcoming players, fans and families to The K Club for what promises to be another exceptional week.”

The international contingent will be lead by Shannon Tan from Singapore, winner of last season’s Order of Merit. Winners from the current LET season such as Noora Komulainen, Leonie Harm, Smilla Tarning Soenderby, Esme Hamilton, Agathe Laisne and Kelsey Bennett are all in the starting field.

Tournament Details

The 2026 KPMG Women’s Irish Open will tee off on Thursday morning at 7.45am.

Check out the Round 1 Draw here

Tickets cost €25 on both Thursday and Friday, and €30 on both Saturday and Sunday.

A weekend pass, which covers both Saturday and Sunday, is available for €50, while a Week Pass, which allows entry to the four days of the tournament, can be purchased for €90.

Children under 16 are free on all days of the tournament.

Tickets can be bought at the gate each day, and are also available to purchase in advance online.

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A fleet of 141 sailors from around the world took to Dublin Bay for the opening day of the six-day regatta, the first World Championships for an Olympic sailing class to be staged in Ireland in over 25 years.

The sailors were met by a light easterly breeze, which gradually filled in across the racecourse and allowed racing to begin in a steady seven to nine knots. The wind shifted midway through the day, forcing a course change for the final race, before building to approximately 15 knots. Three races were completed in good conditions.

Lynch wins first race

Finn Lynch opened his championships in impressive form. The National Yacht Club member secured a comfortable victory in the first race of the day. He followed that with a second-place finish in race two and a fourth in race three, leaving him at the top of the overall standings.

Speaking after racing, Lynch said:

“I’m happy with how the first day went, but I don’t want to get ahead of myself. We’re competing against the best sailors in the world and the conditions are tricky. I’ve sailed here all my life and I’ve never experienced a day quite like today on Dublin Bay, so the plan for the rest of the week is to stick with what works and take each day as it comes.”

Other Irish in action

Fellow Irish sailor Ewan McMahon from Howth Yacht Club also began his championships with a strong eighth-place finish. He followed that with a 19th and a mid-fleet result, which became his discard, leaving him 48th overall after the opening day.

Irish Sailing Development Squad sailors Fiachra McDonnell of Royal Irish Yacht Club and Bobby Driscoll from Ballyholme Yacht Club were also in action. Both gained valuable experience against a world-class fleet. McDonnell recorded an impressive 17th-place finish among his results.

Racing continues tomorrow with the second day of the qualification series, before Gold Fleet racing begins on Wednesday. The championships conclude on Sunday, 30 August, with two Medal Series races deciding the final podium positions.

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Love Me Tender, a German purchase for Willie Mullins, heads the market for the Sky Bet Ebor Handicap, as the Closutton handler bids to win this race for the third time in four years. The four-year-old, who hasn’t run for almost 300 days, will be the mount of William Buick, and is in the same ownership as last year’s winner, Ethical Diamond.

Galway maiden hurdle winner, Mr Hollywood, is another Closutton representative and the third-place finisher in the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot will have the assistance of Saffie Osborne.

Colin Keane, Andrew Balding and Juddmonte have all had a very successful week at York, and they could have another win here with Tarriance. A previous course and distance winner, the four-year-old gelding had a nice prep race for the Ebor when fourth at Goodwood 21 days ago.

Ryan Moore is booked to ride Emit for Joseph O’Brien. Fourth in the Duke Of Edinburgh at Royal Ascot in June, the English jockey maintains his partnership with the bay son of Too Darn Hot. This is significant as Moore has often ridden for Willie Mullins in many of the major staying races in Britain. Choosing to remain loyal to the Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd gelding should not be overlooked.

Poetic Sound will represent Ger Lyons. The five-year-old son of Poet’s Word will wear blinkers for the first time, and he will be ridden by Gary Carroll.

The final Irish runner is the Henry De Bromhead-trained Ascending. He was runner-up to Ethical Diamond in the Sky Bet Ebor last season and had previously won the Ascot Stakes over two-and-a-half miles. The mount of Oisín Orr might look a decent each-way bet at around 20/1.

Sky Bet City Of York Stakes

There also the Group 1 Sky Bet City Of York Stakes on Saturday with 14 runners going to post.

Puerto Rico and Power Blue will represent Aidan O’Brien and Robson Aguair respectively, but the 2024 Betfred 2000 Guineas and Sussex Stakes winner, Notable Speech, will be all the rage to give Charlie Appleby a winner. Incredibly, the Godolphin trainer hasn’t had a runner during the first three days of the four-day meeting.

The Queen Anne Stakes winner at Ascot, Ten Bob Tony, the mount of Kieran Shoemark, was only two-and-three-quarter lengths behind Bow Echo in the Sussex Stakes, so should be involved here, while the Group 2 Lennox Stakes winner, Lake Forest, should also come into the reckoning.

Irish-trained runner at York on Saturday:

1.50 Sky Bet Strensall Stakes (Group 3)

Expanded (IRE) A P O’Brien
Geryon (IRE) G M Lyons

2.25 Sky Bet Melrose Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (GBBPlus Race)

Limestone (IRE) Joseph Patrick O’Brien
Sharkeyboy (FR) W P Mullins
Bay Of Stars (GB) D K Weld
Vantage Code (IRE) Emmet Mullins

3.00 Sky Bet City Of York Stakes (Group 1)

Power Blue (IRE) Robson Aguiar
Puerto Rico (IRE) A P O’Brien

3.35 Sky Bet Ebor Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (GBBPlus Race)

Mr Hollywood (IRE) W P Mullins
Emit (IRE) Joseph Patrick O’Brien
Poetic Sound (IRE) G M Lyons
Ascending (IRE) Henry De Bromhead
Love Me Tender (GER) W P Mullins

4.45 Julia Graves Roses Stakes (Listed)

Hanney Boy (IRE) Miss E McCutcheon

5.20 Sky Bet Dav Reid Finale Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (GBBPlus Race)

Diego El Queso (IRE) G M Lyons

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Trained by Wesley Ward, who had come close to winning this sprint Group 1 before, the Juan Hernandez-ridden son of Maclean’s Music broke smartly from the gates, and led all the way.

When ridden by Hernandez inside the final furlong, the three-year-old quickened clear and was never in danger, as he took out a length-and-three-quarters victory for owners Myracehorse, Gladwell, Dailey and Dejablu.

Only beaten once in his racing career to date over five furlongs, when second at Santa Anita in October 2025, the chestnut colt had won his previous race in Britain, in the Palace Of Holyroodehouse Handicap at Royal Ascot in June.

This afternoon, the Rossa Ryan-ridden Starlust (25/1) was second for Ralph Beckett, while Rumpstar (22/1) was third, under Rob Hornby, a nose behind the runner-up.

Al Nayyir takes Lonsdale Cup

Al Nayyir (9/1) outstayed Illinois to win the Group 2 Weatherby’s Lonsdale Cup over 2 miles and 56 yards.

The 8-runner race saw William Buick keep the Tom Clover-handled eight-year-old in mid-division for much of the contest, before making significant headway at the one-furlong pole.

The Ryan Moore-ridden Illinois, who had been prominent throughout, claimed the lead with two furlongs to run. The son of Galileo wasn’t headed until the dying strides of the race, and had to settle for second at 13/2.

Mount Atlas (4/1), for the inform Andrew Balding, took third under P J McDonald, two-and-a-quarter lengths behind the runner-up.

Arapaho Gold wins Gimcrack

The race favourite, Marco Polo (13/8), could only manage eighth place in the Group 2 Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Gimcrack Stakes for Aidan O’Brien, Ryan Moore and the Coolmore partners.

Arapaho Gold (2/1) was a three-quarters-of-a-length winner for Connor Beasley and Michael Dodds, with Final Objective (18/1) second under James Doyle.

Another winner for Colin Keane

Colin Keane bagged another York winner this afternoon when partnering Joseph O’Brien’s Benjamin Hornigold (16/1) to victory in the £100,000 British Stallion Studs EBF Convivial Maiden Stakes (GBB Race).

Named after an English pirate, the son of Blackbeard had two lengths to spare over Dover Street (40/1) and Pat Dobbs, with Sole Ambition (33/1) third for Kieran Shoemark.

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With 18 horses declared for the five-furlong sprint, Wesley Ward’s once beaten, Bacio, winner of the Palace Of Holyroodehouse Handicap at Royal Ascot in June, is expected to go off as favourite for jockey Juan Hernandez.

Juddmonte reclaimed most of their sponsorship money on Wednesday when winning the Juddmonte International Stakes with Item, and Coolmore will attempt the same feat in the Nunthorpe with Mission Central.

Bred by Gigginstown House Stud, the gelded son of No Nay Never also won at Royal Ascot over five furlongs. He was a winner of the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes from Rayevka, who also re-opposed today, and will provide a strong challenge, and Overpass.

The Aidan O’Brien-handled Mission Central disappointed the last day when only seventh in the Group 1 Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai July Cup Stakes at Newmarket, and it was noticeable that he faded in the final furlong. Back down to five furlongs on Friday, he should be more suited to the distance and should be in the final shake-up.

For last year’s winner, Asfoora, this may be her final race for trainer Henry Dwyer, who will hope to see her retire to the breeding shed on a positive note. She will again be the mount of Oisín Murphy.

Weatherby’s Lonsdale Cup

The Group 2 Weatherby’s Lonsdale Cup Stakes for the stayers goes to post at 2.25pm. The £250,000 contest sees the return of Cabelloa De Mar from his exertions in the God Cup at Royal Ascot in late June. The son of Phoenix Of Spain will represent George Scott and will be the mount of Oisín Murphy.

Amiloc has not won since the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2025, and was well supported the last day before jockey Hector Crouch was unseated leaving the stalls in the Group 1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup Stakes. Rossa Ryan, the son of Postponed’s regular rider will take the mount on Friday.

Illinois will represent Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore, with the in-form Colin Keane teaming up with Willie Mullins’ runner, Columbus. The Paddy Twomey-handled Carmers is now a non-runner.

Irish-trained runners at York on Friday, 21 August 2026.

1.50 Sky Bet Mile Handicap (Heritage Handicap)

Krasimir (IRE) G M Lyons

2.25 Weatherbys Lonsdale Cup Stakes (Group 2)

Columbus (GER) W P Mullins
Illinois (IRE) A P O’Brien

3.00 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes (Group 2)

Marco Polo (IRE) A P O’Brien

3.35 Coolmore City Of Troy Nunthorpe Stakes (Group 1)

Mission Central (IRE) A P O’Brien

4.10 Assured Data Protection Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (GBBPlus Race)

Truth Be Told (IRE) M C Grassick
Zanndabad (IRE) A J Martin

4.45 British Stallion Studs EBF Convivial Maiden Stakes (GBB Race)

Benjamin Hornigold (GB) Joseph Patrick O’Brien
Oklahoma (USA) A P O’Brien

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It was a second Group 1 victory in two days for Keane and Juddmonte, having won the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes with Item yesterday.

The Andrew Balding-trained Kalpana, winner of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on her most recent racecourse appearance, started today’s contest as the 10/11 favourite in the nine-runner field.

Her opposition included the winner of this race last year, Minnie Hauk (4/1), and the recent Group 1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks winner, Johanna Walsh (5/1), the mount of Dylan Browne McMonagle.

Sugar Island, the stable mate of the betting market’s second choice, Minnie Hauk, set a strong pace under Ronan Whelan, and the pair found themselves about 20 lengths ahead as they headed for the home bend.

The daughter of Dubawi found for Whelan in the straight and made the remainder of the field work to close the gap, before she was finally headed at the one-furlong pole.

As Kalpana and Keane took the lead at that stage, Jim Bolger’s Sparán Nua (25/1), with Rossa Ryan in the saddle, went second, while Minnie Hauk and Ryan Moore were third.

The favourite soon began to drift as she battled for the line, with Sparán Nua, in the Newton Anner Stud colours, staying on strongly to challenge the eventual winner, as Minnie Hauk didn’t have the pace to live with either of the main protagonists.

As they hit the finishing line, Kalpana had an advantage of a half-length over Sparán Nua, while the Aidan O’Brien-trained Minnie Hauk was two-and-a-half lengths behind the runner-up.

Earth Shot (20/1), Tattycoram (25/1) and Johanna Walsh, who had all been prominent in the earlier stages of the race, faded to finish fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.

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Ridden by Ryan Moore, the Aidan O’Brien filly was carrying a penalty for her recent Group 1 Phoenix Stakes success at The Curragh.

Held up towards the rear of a big field of runners, the daughter of Sioux Nation was hampered when making her original challenge.

Moore switched the juvenile to the right with more than a furlong to run, but she still had plenty to do to become a major player at the business end of the race.

Once she got daylight and the assistance of Moore in the saddle, the Group 1 winner made striking headway before she took the lead with a furlong to race.

She quickly put daylight between herself and the remainder of the field, and the result was crystal clear within strides, as she ran out a most-impressive six-length winner.

Battle Fever, and 80/1 shot, took second for Kevin Ryan and Kevin Stott, with Speed Of Sound (40/1), next home, three-quarters-of-a-length further back, in the hands of Saffie Osbourne.

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Irish-trained fillies will hold a strong hand in this race with recent Juddmonte Irish Oaks winner, Johanna Walsh, and Aidan O’Brien’s 2025 Yorkshire Oaks victor, Minnie Hauk, leading the Irish challenge in a race the Ballydoyle handler has taken in five of the past six years. The Irish team will be completed by Jim Bolger’s Sparán Nua and Aidan O’Brien’s Sugar Island.

Juddmonte Farms, winning owners of the Juddmonte International hero yesterday, Item, will likely add another Group 1 with Kalpana here.

The five-year-old daughter of Study Of Man is a multiple winner at the highest level, most recently defeating Calandagan, Benvenuto Cellini, Lambourn and one of today’s opponents, Minnie Hauwk, in the Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.

Legacy Link, runner-up to Thundering On in the Betfred Oaks at Epsom in June, is also among the nine-runner field, and will add strength to the Juddmonte challenge.

In the opening Group 2 for fillies, the Sky Bet Lowther Stakes, Paddy Twomey (Big Negotiator), Ger Lyons (Livenka) and Joseph O’Brien (Star Of State) will all be represented, with the latter, a recent Leopardstown maiden winner, likely to head the market.

Recent Group 1 Phoenix Stakes winner at The Curragh, Sun Goddess,  £120,000 purchase at the Goffs UK premier yearling sale, qualifies to run in the Harry’s Half Million By Goffs at 2.25pm. If she has come out of the Phoenix Stakes well, she should be very difficult to beat in this race. The other Irish contender here is the Donnacha O’Brien-prepared Where Love Lies.

Both Paddy Twomey and Joseph O’Brien have runners in the listed fillies and mares race at 4.10pm. The 97-rated Perfect Your Craft represents the former, while the Carriganóg handler will saddle the consistent, and 98-rated, Vauntingly. Ryan Moore takes the ride aboard Morrophore for John and Thady Gosden and will start the race as favourite.

Irish-trained runners at York on Thursday, 20 August 2026:

1.50 Sky Bet Lowther Stakes (Fillies’ Group 2)

Big Negotiator (GB) P Twomey
Livenka (GB) G M Lyons
Star Of State (IRE) Joseph Patrick O’Brien

2.25 Harry’s Half Million By Goffs (GBB Race)

Where Love Lives (IRE) Donnacha Aidan O’Brien
Sun Goddess (IRE) A P O’Brien

3.35 Legends Global Yorkshire Oaks (Fillies’ And Mares’ Group 1)

Minnie Hauk (IRE) A P O’Brien
Johanna Walsh (IRE) Joseph Patrick O’Brien
Sparan Nua (IRE) J S Bolger
Sugar Island (IRE) A P O’Brien

4.10 British EBF & Sir Henry Cecil Galtres Stakes (Fillies’ And Mares’ Listed) (GBBPlus Race)

Perfect Your Craft (IRE) P Twomey
Vauntingly (IRE) Joseph Patrick O’Brien

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Trained by Andrew Balding for the sponsors, Juddmonte Farms, the Colin Keane-ridden son of Frankel outstayed the opposition inside the final furlong to gain a head success over Almaqam (14/1).

While it had been billed as a clash of the generations, namely Constitution River representing the classic generation, and Ombudsman, the older generation, it turned out to be a generational clash alright, but with different protagonists.

The three-year-old Item, winner of the Group 2 Sky Bet York Stakes over course and distance last time, kept on well at the death to get the better of the five-year son of Lope De Vega, Almaqam, the mount of Kieran Shoemark.

Plans for the entire race were quickly dispensed with shortly after horses exited the stalls as the pacemakers for Godolphin, Devil’s Advocate (200/1), and for Coolmore, Action (200/1), both failed to get to the head of the field.

As a result, Hawk Mountain (20/1) and Wayne Lordan, the perceived Ballydoyle second string, had to make the pace for his stablemate, French Derby and Coral-Eclipse winner, Constitution River.

Though the latter claimed the lead at the two-furlong pole, his market rival, Ombudsman (5/6f), who had been in a poor position, found space along the rail to make his run, but he would ultimately only manage fourth place.

Almaqam, the eventual runner-up, and Item, came on Constitution River and Ryan Moore’s outside, with first, the Ed Walker-trained 122-rated Almaqam leading, before Item and Colin Keane outstayed them to the line.

Constitution River took third, three-and-a-half lengths behind the Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum-owned runner-up, with the race favourite, Ombudsman and William Buick, next to pass the post, a length behind the Aidan O’Brien-handled son of Wootton Bassett.

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Trained by William Haggas, Maltese Cross was second to Christmas Day in the Betfred Derby at Epsom in June, on ground that did not suit him.

This afternoon, with underfoot conditions more to his liking, the Sea The Stars colt beat Pierre Bonnard (100/30), third in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby in June, and his conqueror at Epsom, Christmas Day (6/4 favourite), by two lengths and two-and-a-quarter lengths respectively.

The winner, ridden by Tom Marquand, made smooth progress three furlongs from home, and then challenged the race leader, Christmas Day, the mount of Ryan Moore.

Pierre Bonnard was soon pushed to lead at the two-furlong pole by Wayne Lordan, as the race favourite, Christmas Day, began to weaken.

The George Waud-owned Maltese Cross was staying on best of the field inside the final furlong to run out a decisive winner, to add to his Group 1 Cygames Grand Prix de Paris success of last month.

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