Irish Derby Festival 2025: Three Trainers to Watch The Irish Derby Festival takes place at the Curragh this weekend, with three days of scintillating action from Friday night through until Sunday afternoon. The big race itself, the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, is due off at 4.10pm on Sunday, as Aidan O'Brien's Lambourn bids to become the 20th Derby winner to follow up at the Curragh. With three days of top-class action to look forward to, we have picked out three trainers who head for the County Kildare venue this weekend with their teams in top form. Midnite Betting Offer If you already have a Midnite account, check out more of the best betting sites and casino bonuses Charlie Johnston Middleham-based Charlie Johnston has had his team in superb fettle recently, boasting a strike-rate in excess of 28 per cent across recent weeks. He's got a trio of possible Sunday contenders to look forward to in Ireland, including his Derby second Lazy Griff. Before that, Thunder Wonder could line up in the Dubai Duty Free Handicap over 1m1f for three-year-olds, while Urban Sprawl is an entry in the Dubai Duty Free Derby Festival Handicap over a mile for the older brigade. Looking ahead to the Derby, runner-up Lazy Griff is in line for another tilt at a Classic. He was a 50/1 chance at Epsom and ran a blinder in second behind Lambourn, both colts confirming the promise of their Chester runs in May. They are set for round three at the Curragh. Joseph O'Brien The Piltown trainer has enjoyed a busy month so far, with 15 winners and 26 more placed runners from his 104-strong team of runners. O'Brien, who rode Derby winners Camelot (2012) and Australia (2014) for his father and trained the 2018 scorer Latrobe, is set to send Tennessee Stud into battle in Sunday's race. He was an eyecatcher for many in the Derby when staying on from the rear to grab third in a race where the first two were prominent throughout and his connections will hope he has claims of turning it around with Lambourn and Lazy Griff now. Elsewhere the likes of Scorthy Champ in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai International Stakes and Wahdan in the Colm McLoughlin Celebration Stakes could be among his Saturday hopes, while Honeysuckle Rose is expected to contest the GAIN Summer Fillies Handicap on Sunday afternoon. Aidan O'Brien The master himself, Aidan O'Brien seeks an astonishing 17th Irish Derby win and his Epsom conqueror Lambourn could lead a five-strong Ballydoyle delegation in the big race, with the likes of Puppet Master, Shackleton, Thrice and Serious Contender also engaged. O'Brien's June strike-rate is above 21 per cent, though he was denied the leading trainer gong at Royal Ascot last week on countback by John and Thady Gosden. O'Brien, who drew a blank in the Group 1s, was forced to settle for second despite saddling five winners, as he came up short on second-placed efforts compared to the Clarehaven operators. Precise in the Airlie Stud Stakes, Brussels in the Anglesey Stakes and Rock Of Cashel in the Dubai International Stakes could be among his hopefuls this weekend, while Whirl is set to lead the Ballydoyle assault on the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes after being so agonisingly touched off by Minnie Hauk in the Oaks at Epsom.
