Jumping clinic with international show jumper Laura Kennedy
Saturday 16 November 2024
The 2024 Irish Derby is fast approaching. The event at Curragh racecourse in County Kildare is one of the biggest of the UK & Irish race calendar, with it being one of the most prestigious to take place.
It’s the third classic to take place this season at the racecourse, and follows the Epsom Derby that was held at the beginning of June. It’s a lucrative race for those that are involved, with the winner and their connections being able to net a reward just short of three-quarters-of-a-million euro (€712,500).
As mentioned, the 2024 Irish Derby is one of the biggest races to take place in Ireland. This is because it will see many of the best three-year-olds all compete in a Grade 1 event.
Colts and fillies are all eligible to take to the field, where we will see a field of up to 58 competing in the flat race. A total distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs will need to be ran, testing the stamina of these horses. Unsurprisingly, it’s a quick race, and one that we’re likely to see completed with a fast pace.
The race will take place on Saturday, June 30, and will be run in the afternoon. The post time is 15:25 GMT, and will be available to watch on television.
As we get closer to the post for the 2024 Irish Derby, there will be many that will be looking ahead to the race and thinking about who they believe and predict will be the overall winner.
Of course, many of the horses and their recent performances will be fresh in the minds of those who follow the racing closely, as many of them will have competed in the 2024 Epsom Derby at the beginning of the month.
Unsurprisingly, there are odds for this horse racing event, with bookmakers providing the prices for who they believe are the likely contenders to win this year’s race.
Ambiente Friendly is the current favorite at a price of 5/4, just edging stablemate Los Angeles at 6/4. The pair were effective at the Epsom Derby at the beginning of the month, and they are expected to challenge for the honors once again after finishing second and third, respectively.
Interestingly, you can still get odds on City of Troy (5/1) but it’s unlikely the Epsom Derby winner will feature at the 2024 Irish Derby. Although confirmation won’t be made until the Thursday before the race, trainer Aiden O’Brien appears to have his superstar horse being readied for the race at Sandown instead, where he will drop back in trip slightly. Nonetheless, minds can be changed and we could see him at the Curragh Festival.
Having come second in the Epsom Derby and with City of Troy unlikely to be competing, it’s unsurprising that there are so many believing that this is the race Ambiente Friendly will come out victorious in.
Having travelled well under jockey Rab Halvin, the duo will go again. They may have lost by 2 ¾ lengths in the derby at the beginning of the month, but they were simply outpaced by City of Troy. Without his threat, there is every chance that he will be able to outlast everyone else, including his stablemate.
Los Angeles was impressive in the Derby, but he found stamina to be an issue as he started to lose pace towards the end. He powered to the front, but then lost two places as they approached the final few furlongs. With more experience under his belt, it’s no surprise that he is being well-backed once again for this race, but Ambiente Friendly is still edging it.
Although the 2024 Irish Derby is the headline event of the Curragh Festival at the end of June, it’s important to remember that it is a three-day festival that will feature many top-class and quality races with some of the best and upcoming horses the sport has.
It can be a great way for people to find new gems and see those who are making strides to become the best, potentially being big champions in the future.
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