PRIZE money for the Comer Group International Irish St Leger has been raised to €500,000 as part of an extended sponsorship deal.

Run since 2014 as the Palmerstown House Irish St Leger, part of the Comer Group, the race is the centrepiece of the second day of Irish Champions Weekend.

This year’s edition will be run at the Curragh on September 10th.

The race was worth €400,000 last September when the Willie Mullins-trained Wicklow Brave caused a huge shock in beating Ascot Gold Cup winner Order Of St George.

Luke Comer of the sponsors said: “We are delighted to renew our support of the Curragh as they embark on their very exciting redevelopment. We look forward to working with the team at the racecourse helping to ensure that the Irish St Leger remains one of the most prestigious and important classic races in Europe.”

The Irish Leger is the final leg of a series of races sponsored by the Comer Group, which also includes the Comer Group International Curragh Cup and the Comer Group International Irish St Leger Trial.