7 horses will line up in Saturday’s Group One Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh following declaration of runners which closed this morning
Epsom Derby hero Australia and runner-up Kingston Hill dominate proceedings with the former expected to go off odds on favourite to give his trainer Aidan O’Brien his record 11th success in the race. Apart from Australia, O’Brien has Geoffrey Chaucer, Kingfisher and Orchestra in the race, which will be off at 5.30pm
Fascinating Rock will represent Dermot Weld who has won the race previously with Zagreb and Grey Swallow and Ponfeigh will represent another local Curragh based trainer in John Oxx, who has won the race twice in the past with Sinndar (2000) and Alamshar (2003).
Notes to editor
Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival 27th to 29th June 2014
Friday 27th June
DoneDeal Derby Friday Hoedown 1st of 7 races 5.25pm . Concert after racing by country music star Nathan Carter
Champion Jockey Joseph O’Brien will be joined by Pat Smullen, Wayne Lordan, Gary Carroll, Leigh Roche and Billy Lee in the first Paddy Power Zorb Derby taking place. Guest commentator Hector OhEoghagain will direct proceedings with the relay race taking place over 120m on the racetrack in front of the grandstand. A Zorb ball is a huge inflatable ball which allows people to move freely inside.
Competitors will reach up to 25mph in a hilarious and exhilarating rolling experience
Saturday 28th June
Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Day 1st race 3.10pm featuring 8 races with last race at 7.15pm
TV personality and style icon Millie Mackintosh is the official style ambassador for the 2014 festival and will form part of the judging panel to seek out the most stylish lady competition. She will be joined by Melanie Morris of Image publications and Stacey O’Donnell of Brown Thomas
Prize: This year’s Most Stylish Lady prize is worth almost €20,000 and will see the winner walk away with a holiday of a lifetime to Dubai, courtesy of Dubai Duty Free. The winner will spend five glorious nights in Dubai Duty Free’s own, 5 star hotel, The Jumeirah Creekside. The prize also includes return flights and €1,000 to spend at the multi award winning Dubai Duty Free. The winner also receives a spectacular 18 carat gold diamond pendant from Boodles and a Personal Shopping Experience to the value of €3,000 plus a champagne lunch in The Restaurant at Brown Thomas for 4 people and an overnight stay at the Five Star Marker Hotel in Dublin.
Derby Music Village, featuring a variety of bands and DJs hosted by Hector OhEoghagain
Sunday 29th June 1st race 2.15pm
Derby Festival Family Race Day featuring the Newbridge Silverware Pretty Polly Stakes (Group 1)
Aviva Health Kids Zone with variety of free entertainment and performance by the Cossack Stunt Riders and the chance to meet Mickey and Minnie Mouse and the Minions for Despicable Me
Derby Food Paddock
Open over all 3 days of the Festival, The Derby Food Paddock serves the best dishes from Ireland’s leading food producers including restaurants, bakers and artisan producers. Racegoers can enjoy a huge variety of dishes located in the heart of the action beside the parade ring over all three days.
Sports
All GAA and World Cup action to be shown on screens throughout racecourse
Transport
Exit 12 of M7. Free car parking
Dublin Coach provide a service to the races (see dublincoach.ie). Trains to Kildare Town with free shuttle to races
Tickets
Available to purchase on www.curragh.ie. Under 16s free accompanied by an adult