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2027 Sovereign Path Handicap Preview
Scheduled to take place in September of each year at Leopardstown Racecourse is the Sovereign Path Handicap, a Premier Handicap that is contested over seven furlongs by runners aged three or older. The race takes place during the Irish Champions Festival, with the runners having made three or more starts under rules to be eligible for entry.
Young horses drawn high
Andy Powell - Horse Racing Betting Expert - OLBG.com
Sovereign Path Handicap Information:
- Sovereign Path Handicap Past Winners
- Sovereign Path Handicap Trainer Statistics
- Sovereign Path Handicap Jockey Statistics
Our dedicated Leopardstown tips page will not only bring you predictions from the OLBG racing tipsters for the upcoming card that includes the Sovereign Path Handicap, but will also have predictions for each meeting at Leopardstown throughout the season, so be sure to head over there. You may also be interested in other preview blogs that we have packed full of information. Head down to the Races Covered during the Irish Champions Festival section for links to these.
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How competitive is the Sovereign Path Handicap market? When looking at the over-rounds for the last 20 renewals, the most competitive market was in 2011, when the race had an over-round of 119%. The race in 2013 was a race that was most in the bookie's favour with an over-round of 144%, whilst on average over the last 20 renewals of the Sovereign Path Handicap, the over-round has been 132%, which means the bookie expects to pay out £100 for every £132 which is bet.
Below you will find the 2027 Sovereign Path Handicap Trends. See which patterns have occurred over the recent renewals that you may be able to use for the next renewal. We also have a section that looks at the Sovereign Path Handicap Trend Analysis.
These are the top three quickest-run Sovereign Path Handicap races over the last 20 renewals:
- Finicius (1:25.12) in 2010
- Krasimir (1:25.21) in 2026
- Baraweez (1:25.40) in 2014
Looking at the future form, is the winner worth following next time out? Over the past 20 renewals, if you had followed the winner of the Sovereign Path Handicap next time out, then you would have backed a total of 4 winners. Backing all 19 runners who have been out since their win at SP next time out would have returned an LSP of +7.20. Remember to bookmark the racing tips page to access the OLBG racing picks easily daily.
Over the last 20 renewals, it was Finicius, trained by Eoin Griffin and ridden by Johnny Murtagh, who set the fastest winning time in the Sovereign Path Handicap. That runner won the race in a time of 1:25.12 in 2010. At the other end of the scale, it was the combination of trainer G M Lyons and jockey Emmet McNamara with Piri Wango who set the slowest winning time; the race-winning time was 1:34.76 in the 2012 renewal.
Sovereign Path Handicap Past Winners
Here are the Sovereign Path Handicap past winners for the last 10 renewals. Each row details the race year, the winning horse, and the horse's age & weight. Also detailed are the stall from which the horse came and the total number of runners in the race. The horse's trainer and the jockey at the time of winning the Sovereign Path Handicap are also displayed, along with the starting price at which the horse was sent off.
| Year | Horse (Drawn) | Info |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 1:25.21 | Krasimir (IRE) 3yo 8-1 (10 of 17) 15/2 | Reese Holohan (7lbs) G M Lyons (IRE) |
| 2025 1:26.76 | Rahmi (IRE) 6yo 9-7 (16 of 16) 14/1 | Rory Mulligan (7lbs) J P Murtagh (IRE) |
| 2024 1:25.46 | Dance Night Andday (IRE) 4yo 9-7 (20 of 17) 12/1 | Ronan Whelan Ross O'Sullivan (IRE) |
| 2023 1:29.44 | Massive Sovereign (IRE) 3yo 9-1 (13 of 17) 5/1 | Ryan Moore A P O'Brien (IRE) |
| 2022 1:31.17 | Im A Gambler (IRE) 3yo 9-13 (1 of 18) 18/1 | Tom Marquand Charlie & Mark Johnston (GB) |
| 2021 1:30.69 | Masen (GB) 3yo 9-11 (19 of 16) 11/2 | Colin Keane G M Lyons (IRE) |
| 2020 1:27.62 | Could Be King (GB) 4yo 10-0 (16 of 18) 14/1 | W J Lee K J Condon (IRE) |
| 2019 1:27.16 | Current Option (IRE) 3yo 8-12 (11 of 17) 11/2 | Ronan Whelan Adrian McGuinness (IRE) |
| 2018 1:26.38 | Zap (GB) 3yo 8-12 (9 of 17) 20/1 | Chris Hayes Richard Fahey (GB) |
| 2017 1:27.79 | Burnt Sugar (IRE) 5yo 9-4 (12 of 18) 7/1 | Declan McDonogh Roger Fell (GB) |
Where have the winning runners come from?
Here are the countries where the winning trainers of the Sovereign Path Handicap have been based:
- IRE: 15 winners with an additional 46 placings from 270 runners
- GB: 5 winners with an additional 10 placings from 44 runners
Sovereign Path Handicap Trainer Statistics
The leading trainer in the Sovereign Path Handicap over the last 20 renewals is G M Lyons, who has won the race three times, with those three winners coming from Piri Wango (2012), Masen (2021) and Krasimir (2026). The only other trainer to have recorded multiple wins in the Sovereign Path Handicap is J S Bolger (2 wins). Multiple trainers have not had the best of times over the last 20 renewals in the Sovereign Path Handicap. Mrs John Harrington (0-16), D K Weld (0-13), David Marnane (0-10) and Joseph Patrick O'Brien (0-10) have all failed to produce a single winner despite sending multiple runners to the race.
Here are some of the top Sovereign Path Handicap trainer statistics over the last 20 renewals (R = Runners, W = Winners, P = Places including winners, Win LSP is based on 1pt Win and EW LSP is based on 0.5pt Win & 0.5pt Place):
| Trainer | R-W-P | Win | EW |
|---|---|---|---|
| G M Lyons | 25-3-5 | -6.25 | -9.03 |
| J S Bolger | 9-2-4 | +14.00 | +8.57 |
| J P Murtagh | 18-1-3 | -3.00 | -2.62 |
| M Halford | 18-1-4 | -8.00 | -4.61 |
| Adrian McGuinness | 15-1-4 | -8.50 | -5.43 |
| Richard Fahey | 8-1-5 | +13.00 | +10.82 |
| K J Condon | 7-1-4 | +8.00 | +9.72 |
| A P O'Brien | 6-1-1 | +0.00 | -1.87 |
| Kevin Prendergast | 6-1-2 | -2.00 | -0.70 |
| Brian Ellison | 4-1-1 | +9.00 | +4.50 |
Sovereign Path Handicap Jockey Statistics
There are multiple leading jockeys in the Sovereign Path Handicap over the last 20 renewals, with Declan McDonogh, Ronan Whelan, and W J Lee having all won the race twice. Declan McDonogh's winners have been with Seeharn (2011) and Burnt Sugar (2017). Ronan Whelan winners have been with Current Option (2019) and Dance Night Andday (2024). W J Lee winners have been with Colour Blue (2016) and Could Be King (2020). Two jockeys have not had the best of times over the last 20 renewals in the Sovereign Path Handicap; Gary Carroll has ridden 11 runners in the race without recording any wins whilst Wayne Lordan has ridden 10 without a winner.
Here are some of the top Sovereign Path Handicap jockey statistics over the last 20 renewals (R = Runners, W = Winners, P = Places including winners, Win LSP is based on 1pt Win and EW LSP is based on 0.5pt Win & 0.5pt Place):
| Jockey | R-W-P | Win | EW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Declan McDonogh | 15-2-3 | -3.00 | -5.44 |
| Ronan Whelan | 12-2-4 | +7.50 | +7.07 |
| W J Lee | 10-2-5 | +16.00 | +14.19 |
| Chris Hayes | 15-1-5 | +6.00 | +6.88 |
| Shane Foley | 14-1-4 | -4.00 | -3.78 |
| Colin Keane | 10-1-1 | -3.50 | -5.56 |
| Rory Cleary | 6-1-1 | +11.00 | +5.00 |
| Ryan Moore | 4-1-1 | +2.00 | +0.13 |
| Gary Halpin | 4-1-2 | +1.00 | +2.50 |
| Rory Mulligan | 3-1-1 | +12.00 | +6.75 |
2027 Sovereign Path Handicap Trends
Favourites' finishing positions (oldest to latest): 1, 1, 2, (8, 9), (1, 3), 1, 7, 15, 1, 6, 3, 2, 4, (11, 17), 3, 17, 2, 7, 4, 5
The percentage shown is the proportion of runners who fell under that factor. High percentages are less appealing than lower ones, as you would expect them to do well.
- 20 / 20 (73%) - No bigger than 20/1
- 20 / 20 (80%) - Achieved an RPR of 76+ (LTO)
- 20 / 20 (80%) - Beaten no more -10l (Debut)
- 20 / 20 (81%) - Carried 126 - 133lbs (Debut)
- 20 / 20 (81%) - Placed within last 4 starts
- 20 / 20 (81%) - No bigger than 25/1 (Debut)
- 20 / 20 (82%) - Within the first 13 of the market
- 20 / 20 (82%) - Fewer than 3 wins (Trip)
- 20 / 20 (83%) - Break of 14 - 336 days (Last Place)
- 20 / 20 (87%) - Off a break of 11 - 111 days
- 20 / 20 (87%) - Carried 121 - 141lbs (Last Win)
- 20 / 20 (88%) - No bigger than 12/1 (Last Win)
- 20 / 20 (88%) - Not on HY/STD (LTO)
- 20 / 20 (89%) - No bigger than 18/1 (Career Win)
- 20 / 20 (89%) - No older than a 7yo
Remember to use the trends listed above, along with the Leopardstown racing predictions, to see if you can find the winner of the Sovereign Path Handicap. Did you know that we have an OLBG Betting School section on OLBG? It is a place to help you improve your betting experience with articles covering numerous topics.
Are you already a member? If not, then why not? With over £6,000 given away each month in the tipster competition, why not get involved? Remember, it is completely FREE! So, head over to the registration page to sign up today! If you are already a member, then share your thoughts on the Sovereign Path Handicap by adding a tip on the race here.
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2027 Sovereign Path Handicap Runners & Shortlist
The runners and the final trends shortlist for the 2027 renewal of the Sovereign Path Handicap will be added once the final declarations are confirmed, which are usually 48 hours before the race.
Sovereign Path Handicap Trend Analysis
✅ The trend factor, which has produced 10+ winners and shows the best LSP, an LSP of +37.75, is when runners had 0 career starts with the jockey.
❌ The worst-performing factor that has failed to produce a single winner is when runners had a furthest trip run of 1m2f; when backing these, the trend shows a record of 0-42.
Here are the most recent winning draws, along with the further placings in brackets:
- 2026: Winner in 10 (8,16,13) [17 Runners]
- 2025: Winner in 16 (1,13,5) [16 Runners]
- 2024: Winner in 20 (18,21,16) [17 Runners]
- 2023: Winner in 13 (7,4,2) [17 Runners]
- 2022: Winner in 1 (19,16,11) [18 Runners]
The course which has produced the most winners of the Sovereign Path Handicap is Curragh; there have been a total of 4 winners of this race who ran at Curragh last time out. The next best courses, which have produced the second most winners, are York and Naas; there have been a total of 3 winners from each of those courses.
The race is open to both sexes, with male runners having produced a total of 14 winners from a total of 263 runners, while female runners have produced 6 winners from a total of 51 runners.
Looking over the past renewals, these are the stallions whose offspring have produced multiple winners of the Sovereign Path Handicap:
- No Nay Never (2 Wins)
- Pivotal (2 Wins)
These are the stallions whose offspring have not produced a winner of the Sovereign Path Handicap despite multiple attempts:
- Kodiac (0 Wins from 15 runners)
- Dark Angel (0 Wins from 9 runners)
- Invincible Spirit (0 Wins from 6 runners)
- Siyouni (0 Wins from 6 runners)
- Dandy Man (0 Wins from 5 runners)
Looking at the winning odds over the last 20 renewals, the biggest-priced winner was Zap in 2018, winning for Richard Fahey at odds of 20/1 under the guidance of Chris Hayes. Looking at the runners at the head of the market over the last 20 renewals, there have been 5 winning favourites in the race. Whilst we wait for the 2027 Sovereign Path Handicap, remember you can get daily racing predictions from the top racing tipsters on the best racing tipsters page.
Route to the Sovereign Path Handicap
Many trainers target races as preparation for the Sovereign Path Handicap. These are the races in which the recent winners ran before coming here:
| Info | Last Race |
|---|---|
| 2026 - Krasimir York - 3rd of 19 (18/1) | Ebor Mile Heritage Handicap |
| 2025 - Rahmi Cork - 4th of 7 (18/1) | NFP Irish EBF Platinum Stakes |
| 2024 - Dance Night Andday Naas - 8th of 11 (11/1) | Tally-Ho Stud Irish EBF Ballyogan Stakes |
| 2023 - Massive Sovereign Naas - 2nd of 11 (7/4) | Royal Ascot Trials At Naas Handicap |
| 2022 - Im A Gambler Goodwood - 5th of 6 (4/1) | Weatherbys Stallion Book Supreme Stakes |
| 2021 - Masen Killarney - 2nd of 11 (9/2) | Ruby Stakes |
| 2020 - Could Be King Naas - 8th of 11 (9/2) | Owenstown Stud Stakes |
| 2019 - Current Option Curragh - 2nd of 25 (12/1) | Irish Cambridgeshire |
| 2018 - Zap York - 16th of 17 (16/1) | Ebor Mile Heritage Handicap |
| 2017 - Burnt Sugar Goodwood - 2nd of 19 (14/1) | Grosvenor Sport Handicap |
Principal races during the Irish Champions Festival
Saturday at the Irish Champions Festival
Leopardstown hosts the opening day of the Irish Champions Festival, the highlight of the day being the Irish Champions Stakes, a race dominated by Aidan O'Brien in recent years, with him winning six of the last seven renewals and having won the race a total of thirteen times.
| Race | Last Winner | Info |
|---|---|---|
| Sovereign Path Handicap | Krasimir (IRE) 3yo - 15/2 | G M Lyons Reese Holohan |
| Golden Fleece Stakes | Darkness Falls (IRE) 2yo - 1/1 | A P O'Brien Ryan Moore |
| Matron Stakes | Blue Bolt (IRE) 4yo - 4/5 | Andrew Balding Colin Keane |
| Solonaway Stakes | Quddwah (GB) 6yo - 1/1 | Simon & Ed Crisford James Doyle |
| Irish Champion Stakes | Hotazhell (GB) 4yo - 50/1 | Mrs John Harrington Shane Foley |
| Petingo Handicap | Immutable (IRE) 6yo - 25/1 | Joseph G Murphy Luke McAteer |
Sunday at the Irish Champions Festival
The Sunday of the Irish Champions Festival is hosted at the Curragh with four Group 1 races, the highlight being the Irish St Leger. Aidan has not been as dominant in this, with just seven wins, two behind both Vincent O'Brien and Dermot Weld.
| Race | Last Winner | Info |
|---|---|---|
| Bold Lad Sprint Handicap | Tango Flare (IRE) 6yo - 50/1 | Patrick T Foley Luke McAteer |
| Blandford Stakes | Barnavara (IRE) 3yo - 6/1 | Mrs John Harrington Shane Foley |
| Moyglare Stud Stakes | Precise (IRE) 2yo - 11/2 | A P O'Brien Ronan Whelan |
| Flying Five Stakes | Arizona Blaze (GB) 3yo - 11/2 | Adrian Murray David Egan |
| National Stakes | Zavateri (IRE) 2yo - 15/2 | Eve Johnson Houghton Charles Bishop |
| Irish St Leger | Al Riffa (FR) 5yo - 3/1 | Joseph Patrick O'Brien Dylan Browne McMonagle |
| Northfields Handicap | Shaool (IRE) 4yo - 11/2 | J P Murtagh Ben Coen |
Article Contributor Information
We are fortunate to have an excellent team of specialists and experts at OLBG. Contributing to the creation and maintenance of this Sovereign Path Handicap Preview are Andy and James. They both work on the Horse Racing Tips team, overseeing the tipsters and managing the tip settlement, while also creating and managing all the horse racing event previews for Flat racing.
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