THE fashionista will barely have time to go shopping never mind getting the hair and tan done between tomorrow’s Style Sunday/Father’s Day meeting at Downpatrick and next weekend’s Summer Festival of Racing at Down Royal.

The feature race on Friday’s all National Hunt card at the Maze is thetote.com Galway Plate Trial Handicap Chase which has a prize fund of €25,000. The two and a half-mile race was won last year by the Mark Walsh-ridden Elegant Statesman who brought up a double for his Co Waterford trainer Henry de Bromhead.

Saturday’s feature race is, of course, the Magners Ulster Derby (Premier Handicap) of €100,000 over one mile, four furlongs and 106 yards in which, 12 months ago, Kevin Manning carried the colours of June Judd to victory on the Jim Bolger-trained Stellar Mass. The all-flat card also stages the €40,000 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Ulster Oaks, won last year by the Dermot Weld-trained, Pat Smullen-ridden Simannka.

Saturday is Ladies’ Day with the racecourse teaming up with Magners Forbidden Flavours to offer a super prize to the lucky winner of the Best Dressed Lady competition. The package comprises a seven-night eastern Caribbean cruise on the MSC Divina, three nights in the four-star Casablanca on the Ocean Hotel on Miami Beach and includes return flights from Belfast to Miami with British Airways.

The new partnership between French Village and Down Royal has allowed the racecourse to improve on the food offerings to both the hospitality customer and the public.

Mike Todd, General Manager of Down Royal, says: “Our Summer Festival of Racing boasts impeccable sporting credentials and has long been a favourite with punters and die-hard fans of horse racing. Increasingly, they are being joined by a new breed of racegoer who loves the unique spirit of this great racecourse and who appreciates an outing with sport, craic and style.

“This year, to create the right, laid-back summer vibe, we’re adding gourmet barbeque to a programme that’s already smokin’ hot and we’re looking forward to drawing record crowds ready to share the race-going experience.”