More valuable Irish Derby moves to a Sunday next year for first time since 2011

The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby will be held on a Sunday next year for the first time since 2011 with prize-money increasing by from €1 million to €1.25 million.

The Ralph Beckett-trained Westover provided Colin Keane with his first Irish Derby this year, on what was a Saturday to savour for the four-time champion jockey. However, the race will revert to a Sunday next year, a move that the Curragh's chief executive Brian Kavanagh is fully behind.

Not since Treasure Beach and Colm O'Donoghue landed the prize 11 years ago has the Irish Derby been staged on a Sunday.

Kavanagh said: "We've been looking into it for a few years now and thought that building up to your big race on the Sunday was something which might work better. The prospect of inclusion in the Tote World Pool on the Sunday was a major factor too.

Treasure Beach was the last Sunday winner of an Irish DerbyCredit: Patrick McCann

"I was surprised when I realised how long ago it was since the Derby was staged on a Sunday but I suppose it was always a tradition years ago to have the Irish Derby on a Sunday. There was a bit of the 'after the Lord Mayor's show' feeling about the Sunday card when the Irish Derby was on a Saturday.

"Next year we will be building up the Friday night as a big local night's racing around the area. We will then have a high-quality Group 1 card on the Saturday followed by your big race on the Sunday. I think it will work well and we're looking forward to it here at the Curragh."

The full eight-race programme on Irish Derby day, five of which will now be sponsored by Dubai Duty Free, will also be part of the Tote World Pool for the first time next year. The Saturday card on July 1 will feature the Group 1 Alwasmiyah Pretty Polly Stakes and will also be Ladies' Day.

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