THE Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby has received a major boost with the news that the first four home in last Saturday’s Derby at Epsom are all heading to the Curragh on Sunday, July 2nd.

In addition, the Epsom beaten favourite Arrest could come for the rematch, along with his crowd-pulling rider Frankie Dettori. Add in likely contenders from trainers Joseph and Donnacha O’Brien, plus a couple of Ballydoyle dark horses, and the €1.25 million classic looks set to be one of the races of the year.

Michael Tabor, part-owner of Epsom winner Auguste Rodin, told the press this week: “I would say he’ll go to the Irish Derby. I haven’t discussed it, but it’s common sense to say he definitely goes to the Irish Derby. Then we’ll bring him back in trip – a mile and a quarter – for some of those races.”

There is free entry to the Irish Derby for the first four Epsom finishers, and connections of the second, third and fourth-placed runners - King Of Steel, White Birch and Sprewell - have indicated they plan to take up that offer.

The same ‘free ticket’ is available to the first four finishers in the Prix du Jockey Club and connections of the third-placed Marhaba Ya Sanafi, winner of the Poule d’Essai des Poulains, are considering a tilt.

Chester Vase winner Arrest is also elgible for free entry. Juddmonte’s Barry Mahon said: “We’ll give the Curragh some consideration. I think the track will suit him.”