Frankie Dettori and Jamie Spencer ready to ride one last time for Barney Curley

Jamie Spencer, Tom Queally and Ted Walsh have highlighted the importance of supporting Barney Curley's Direct Aid For Africa Charity (Dafa) as the renowned gambler and former trainer is remembered at Bellewstown, the scene of his most famous coup, on Thursday.

Spencer, along with Shane Kelly and Bellewstown debutant Frankie Dettori, will ride in the Gannons City Recovery And Recycling Services Ltd. Supporting DAFA Handicap (3.05) and Queally, who would have also ridden in the 7½f contest had he not been suspended, will make the trip over to remember his former mentor.

Curley will forever be remembered for the infamous gamble pulled off on Yellow Sam at Bellewstown on June 25, 1975 that netted him £306,000.

Yellow Sam: a perfectly executed gamble that netted Barney Curley a fortune

He may have carved out a reputation as being a hard-nosed gambler who was not to be crossed but Curley's legend, according to Queally, will live on through his charity work and not through his successes in racing.

Queally explained: "Us four – Frankie, Shane, Jamie and myself –have seen first hand about where the funds of Dafa goes to and it's for a great cause. There's nothing skimmed off the top at Dafa and there aren't many charities like that. Barney would have liked this. It's something that is very close to him and, creating the charity, he will live on through this. He will remain in our thoughts through the charity."

Tom Queally on Barney Curley: 'He'd give you the world if you were on his side and if you were a part of the team'Credit: Edward Whitaker

He added: "Barney was caring and kind. He'd give you the world if you were on his side and if you were a part of the team. Having said that, I wouldn't have liked to have been the fella who double crossed him. He had a serious side as well.

"I'm looking forward to going over. I'm a bit gutted that I can't ride in the race but there is a tinge of irony there because I'm ruled out because of a suspension. He's cost me a day or two in suspensions in the past so I'm sure he'll look down and smile about it."

Like Queally, Spencer has travelled with Curley to Zambia and echoed his weighing room colleague's sentiments in urging people to support the Dafa charity on Thursday.

Spencer, who has ridden a winner at Bellewstown before and will bid to double his tally aboard the Des Donovan-trained Tipperary Moon, said: "I think I rode a winner for Tommy Stack at Bellewstown once before. It was a long time ago now and I couldn't name it.

"The whole day is about supporting the charity and we're all looking forward to coming over. Dafa is a fantastic charity. It's been going nearly 25 years and it's a testiment to Barney. I went to Zambia with Barney and what they've done there, it's ten times what he's done in horseracing. Every penny that's put into Dafa goes straight to the charity."

Jamie Spencer: will be riding at BellewstownCredit: Edward Whitaker

Walsh, who rode many winners for Curley as an amateur, runs Castletownshend in the race, and has fond memories of the revered figure who died at the age of 81 back in May.

He said: "The last time I met Barney was at Mick O'Toole's funeral. I met Barney through Tommy Stack when I was in my twenties. I knew him a long time. It's nice to have a runner in the race. He was a great man and he was before his time. People talk about Yellow Sam but, for my money, the biggest stroke he ever pulled was raffling off Middleton Park. That was ingenious."

Read more on Barney Curley:

Barney Curley, legendary punter and former trainer, dies at the age of 81

Yellow Sam: a perfectly executed gamble that netted Barney Curley a fortune

Long list of winning gambles contributed to the popular legend of Barney Curley

Frankie Dettori: 'I was a tearaway but Barney put his arm around me and made me a better person'(Members' Club)

'He got under people's skin but men like him are few and far between'

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