24th June 2021
11 runners to line up for 2021 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby
Mojo Star, Hurricane Lane, Mac Swiney and High Definition are among the top-class field for the €1 million contest.
11 horses have been declared to run in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby following this morning’s declaration of runners. The Group 1 Classic takes centre stage this weekend at The Curragh.
English Derby runner up Mojo Star trained in Britain by Richard Hannan will renew rivalry with the Charlie Appleby trained Hurricane Lane and Mac Swiney trained by Jim Bolger, who finished third and fourth in the Epsom Classic.
Current ante post favourite High Definition will head a strong Aidan O’Brien team of five runners and look to give his trainer an unprecedented 15th success in the race. In addition to High Definition, he will be represented by Van Gogh, Woodsworth, Arturo Toscanini, Matchless and Woodsworth.
Lone Eagle will represent British based trainer Martyn Meade and ridden by Frankie Dettori, while Fernando Vichi will look to give Donnacha O’Brien his first Derby winner as a trainer having won the race as a jockey with Latrobe.
Recent Heider Family Stables Gallinule Stakes winner Earlswood will be a first Irish Derby runner for Curragh based trainer Johnny Murtagh, who landed the race four times as a jockey.
The top class 8 race programme which starts at 2pm also features the GAIN Railway Stakes with a record 14 runners, including the unbeaten Castle Star and Dr Zempf. A strong British trained team for the Group 2 contest includes the Richard Hannon trained Dukebox and recent Norfolk Stakes runner up Go Bears Go trained by David Loughnane. Pinar Del Rio, Masseto, Twilight Jet and The Acropolis are other notable runners
True Self, Dawn Patrol, Thunder Kiss, Southern Lights and Cadillac feature among the 12 runners in the ARM Holding International Stakes. Speak in Colours, Romantic Proposal and Make A Challenge are among the 16 runners in the Dubai Duty Free Dash, while 11 will face the starter in the Dubai Duty Free Celebration Stakes including Sinawann, Charterhouse, Belle Image and State of Rest.
The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival kicks off on Friday with the 1st of 7 races at 4.30pm featuring the Bord Na Mona Recycling Apprentice Derby and TRI Equestrian Handicap.
Declared runners
Declared runners for Sunday will be published at 10am Friday
Latest Betting:
Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby
Paddy Power: 2 High Definition, 4 Mojo Star, 5 Hurricane Lane, 7 Mac Swiney, 15-2 Lone Eagle, 12 Van Gogh, 14 Wordsworth, 16 Earlswood, 20 Fernando Vichi, 33 Arturo Toscanini, 66 Matchless
GAIN Railway Stakes
Paddy Power: 11-4 Castle Star, 4 Dr Zempf, 9-2 Cadamosto, Go Bears Go, 8 Masseto, 9 Dukebox, 14 The Acropolis, 16 Pinar Del Rio, Twilight Jet, 25 The Entertainer, 33 Strapped, 66 Andreas Vesalius, 80 Albion Square, 100 Arges
Ground
Good, Good to Firm in places, following a further 5mm through yesterday.
Monitoring with regards to further watering
Forecast – rain this evening into tonight with further showers tomorrow.
Track – racing on stand side in straight – stalls in centre for all sprints
How to view
RTE – 5 live races Saturday and Sunday
ITV – live coverage of Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby
Racing TV – all race over 3 days