Curragh gearing up for fantastic 3 days THE Stobart Ireland Pretty Polly Stakes is the feature event at the Curragh this Saturday and the Group One contest has quality written all over it with Snow Fairy, Midday and Misty For Me among the 14 horses remaining in the race. Midday has been installed the 5/6 favourite with bookmakers Paddy Power who then go 2/1 Snow Fairy and 8/1 Misty For Me. Snow Fairy makes her eagerly awaited seasonal debut in the 10 furlong contest, but last year’s Epsom and Irish Oaks heroine is sure be well primed for the task in hand by her trainer Ed Dunlop. Breeders Cup winner Midday, meanwhile, has had a couple of outings this year and the daughter of Oasis Dream will prove a tough nut to crack. Misty For Me possibly failed to see out the trip when fifth behind Dancing Rain in the Epsom Oaks last time, but the Aidan O’Brien-trained filly earlier showed her class when getting up close home to beat stable companion Together in the Etihad Airways Irish 1,000 Guineas. The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Eleanora Duse is also likely to make the trip over for Saturday’s race, while She’s Our Mark, Chrysanthemum, Wild Wind, Gemstone and Claiomh Solais are others well worth a mention in what promises to be a thrilling contest. Royal Ascot winner Fox Hunt is one of five British-trained raiders among the 18 entries for the Group Three At The Races Curragh Cup on the same afternoon. His trainer Mark Johnston also has Jukebox Jury in the race, while Akmal, Red Cadeaux and Times Up complete the overseas challenge. Address Unknown, Haziyna, Admiral Barry, Sense Of Purpose and Regent Street form the backbone of the home defence. Trainer Kevin Ryan has a very talented bunch of juveniles this season and he is likely to be represented by Dam Beautiful in the Group Three Grangecon Stud Stakes for which there are 16 entries. Angels Will Fall, Princess Banu, Samitar and Sweet Chilli are the other British-trained entries for the six furlong contest. Irish champion trainer Aidan O’Brien is well represented here with After, Soon, Wading and Chieftess. The three day Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby weekend commences on Friday evening at 6pm and the Group Three Irish Daily Mail International Stakes is the feature event on a six race programme. Among the 11 entries for the 10 furlong contest are Famous Name, Jan Vermeer, She’s Our Mark and Viscount Nelson, while Elusive Pimpernel is the sole British-trained raider. The Good Food Ireland Village will be open throughout the weekend, while other entertainment off the track on Friday features a live concert by Boogie Nights after racing, while on Saturday, ladies fashion will play an important role with spectacular prizes for the Whitewater Shopping Centre sponsored Best Accessorised Outfit and Most Perfect Legs and Best Manicured Nails supported by Sally Hansen Tickets for all three days of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival are available from www.curragh.ie or by calling 045 441205. There is plenty of free car parking, while trains to Kildare Town are met by a free shuttle bus to the racecourse. Entries for Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Day Sunday 26th June will be published at 12 noon tomorrow The ground at the Curragh is currently good with some showers forecast through the coming week. Stobart Ireland Pretty Polly Stakes - Paddy Power: 5-6 Midday, 2 Snow Fairy, 8 Misty for Me, 20 Chtysanthemum, Claiomh Solais, Eleanora Duse, Aoife Alainn, Wild Wind, 25 She's Our Mark, 33 Empowering, 50 Obama Rule, 66 Asheerah, 100 Eirnin, Gemstone
