LEGENDARY French trainer André Fabre will bid to win the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby for a third time this weekend with Prix du Jockey Club runner-up Waldgeist ready to line up for the €1,500,000 showpiece at the Curragh on Saturday.

Fabre won the race in 1995 with Winged Love and in 2005 with Hurricane Run and Fabre is hopeful of a big run from Waldgeist who was a Group 1 winner last season.

“It doesn’t seem that any horse is able to be the best by 3lbs or 4lbs, they all seem to be very much together, so that is why I am taking my chance. I think it is a good opportunity for him.” Fabre said.

“He stays well, he has a big heart and he has a good acceleration as well as the ability that he has already shown. I’m a great fan of the Curragh. It is a beautiful track, well designed, you cannot be unlucky as it is a very fair course.”

SMULLEN

Also looking for a third win in Ireland’s premier race is jockey Pat Smullen who has been confirmed to ride Cracksman for John Gosden.

Gosden won the 150th renewal of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby with Jack Hobbs in 2015 and the trainer is excited to see his colt renew rivalry with Epsom Derby winner Wings Of Eagles, one of eight left in the race by trainer Aidan O’Brien.

“Cracksman is in great form and I’m very happy with him. All being well we are going to the Curragh on Saturday, it is a lovely track and I think it will suit him. They are two very nice horses from Epsom and I thought Wings Of Eagles was impressive in the Derby. I’m very clear in my mind that he would have been an unlucky loser as he was stopped twice in running and still won it at the finish.''

O’Brien’s team is led by Wings Of Eagles and the Epsom hero is joined on the remaining list of 12 acceptors by stable companions, Capri, Douglas Macarthur, Finn McCool, Spanish Steps, Taj Mahal, The Anvil and Venice Beach.

Jim Bolger may be represented by Dubai Sand, while Jessica Harrington is bidding to add another historic chapter to a remarkable year with Grandee as the first female trainer to win the race.

Also on Saturday the Group 2 GAIN Railway Stakes promises to be another fascinating renewal for which Jim Bolger has supplemented nine and a half length Curragh maiden winner Verbal Dexterity. Richard Hannon’s highly rated De Bruyne Horse is set to make a quick reappearance after Royal Ascot while Charlie Appleby’s Aqabah and Folk Tale remain in the line up.

PRETTY POLLY STAKES

A high class line up of 14 fillies stand their ground for the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes on Sunday with Dermot Weld’s Group 1 winner Zhukova heading the entries.

Last month’s Man O’ War Stakes winner at Belmont may clash with Aidan O’Brien’s consistent four-year-old Somehow, while Journey (John Gosden), Nezwaah (Roger Varian), and Smart Call (Sir Michael Stoute) form a smart British representation.

Last years Irish St Leger winner Wicklow Brave could be set to return to the scene of his finest triumph as he is among 14 left in the Comer Group Curragh Cup, AND 2015 Irish Champion Stakes winner The Grey Gatsby is on course to make his seasonal debut in the Group 3 Finlay Volvo International Stakes.

TICKET ONLY

With reduced capacity this year due to the ongoing redevelopment project, Saturday July 1st, Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Day is a TICKET ONLY event and is now SOLD OUT. Tickets for Irish Derby Day will NOT be available to purchase at the racecourse on Saturday. Children also require a ticket. Curragh Season Ticket holders, Curragh Premier Members, Go Racing in Kildare Members and AIR cardholders will gain access as normal.

There are tickets still available for Friday 30th June and Sunday 2nd July of the three-day event and tickets and hospitality can be booked online at www.curragh.ie or by calling 045-441205. For more information please contact: The Curragh Racecourse, info@curragh.ie or 045-441205.