Latest news with #JulyFestival
Irish Independent
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Killarney Races July Festival promises the best in racing and fashion
Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Lakes of Killarney, Ross Castle, and the MacGillycuddy Reeks, the festival features a mix of flat racing (Monday to Wednesday) and national hunt racing (Thursday and Friday). Killarney Racecourse isn't just a scenic venue, it's a breeding ground for champions. In recent years, it has become a key stepping stone for some of the sport's biggest names. Notably, three of Aidan O'Brien's Epsom Derby winners: Wings of Eagles (2017), Anthony Van Dyck (2019), and Lambourn (2025)—all broke their maiden at Killarney. For racing fans and punters alike, the July Festival could be your chance to witness the next Derby legend in the making. This growing trend highlights Killarney's role as a crucial proving ground for elite talent, with its well-maintained turf and competitive maiden races offering the perfect environment for young thoroughbreds to shine. 'There's something magical about summer racing in Killarney,' said Karl McCay, General Manager of Killarney Racecourse. 'With the Lakes of Killarney, Ross Castle, and the MacGillycuddy Reeks as our backdrop, we're proud to offer a festival that blends world-class racing with unforgettable atmosphere. Whether you're here for the sport, the style, or the social buzz, this is a week not to be missed,' he added. Lee Strand Best Dressed Day is on July 18 when patrons have an opportunity to enjoy the spotlight at one of Ireland's most stylish racing events. This glamorous occasion celebrates fashion, flair, and individuality. This year's celebrity judges are Glenda Gilson, one of Ireland's most recognisable fashion and entertainment personalities, and her husband, Dublin businessman, Rob MacNaughton. The stylish couple will be circulating the enclosures from early in the day, scouting for the most fashionable racegoers. Organisers are encouraging patrons to arrive early and dress to impress. No fewer than 10 lucky finalists — both ladies and gents — will be selected by the judges, each receiving a prize for their standout style. These finalists will then compete for the prestigious titles of Lee Strand Best Dressed Lady and Gent, with the winners taking home VIP trips for two to Paris and Milan, respectively. 'We are so excited to attend the Lee Strand Best Dressed Day at Killarney Races. We always love travelling to the Kingdom of Kerry, and joining that with a day at the races — what more would you want! We love all the style and can't wait to see everyone,' said Glenda Gilson. Patrons can take advantage of a free shuttle bus that will run from Killarney Avenue across all five days of the July Festival.
Leader Live
2 days ago
- Sport
- Leader Live
Unsatisfactory scope scuppers Giavellotto's Newmarket defence
Marco Botti's stable star was a decisive winner of the Group Two feature on the opening day of the July Festival last season and rounded off his campaign with top-level success in the Hong Kong Vase. Having finished a creditable third in last month's Coronation Cup at Epsom, Giavellotto was being readied to defend his crown on the July Course before being scratched on Friday morning. Explaining his absence, Botti said: 'We scoped this morning, he had a few coughs and we weren't happy with the scope. Tomorrow (Saturday) he was meant to be doing a piece of work and we felt he wasn't going to be 100 per cent. 'It's disappointing because this race has been in my mind for a long time and there's not many left in the race, but on the other hand the horse's welfare comes first and if we feel he's not going to be 100 per cent, there is no point in going to the races. 'These things normally just take a few days and then they are OK and it's just unfortunate that we're so close to the race and were meant to gallop the horse tomorrow. We just felt it's not the right thing for the horse to gallop with a little bit of infection, but I'm sure it will clear up soon.' Botti is unsure where Giavellotto will make his next appearance, with a return to Sha Tin in early December top of his agenda. The trainer added: 'We have made an entry in a Group One in Germany in August and long-term we would obviously like to run him in Hong Kong, so we'll work backwards from that. 'As the season goes on into the autumn another thing we have to bear in mind is the ground, because he doesn't want it soft. 'He has an entry in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, but we made that entry a long time ago and I would say at this stage it's not a race we'll probably go for. All the other options will be considered and Hong Kong would be the priority basically.' A small field is guaranteed for the Princess of Wales's Stakes, with Charlie Appleby leaving in Arabian Crown and El Cordobes and John and Thady Gosden confirming both Military Academy and Palladium. The other contenders are James Owen's Wimbledon Hawkeye and the Clive Cox-trained Ghostwriter, who was last seen finishing third behind Godolphin's globetrotting star Rebel's Romance in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot. Six entries have been made for the Group Three Bahrain Trophy, including Aidan O'Brien's pair of Galveston and Scandinavia, with the former of particular interest after finishing third in the King Edward VII Stakes at the Royal meeting. Andrew Balding's Furthur, who came even closer to Ascot success with a close-up second in the Queen's Vase, also features. Nine juveniles are in the mix for what looks a strong renewal of Kingdom of Bahrain July Stakes. Appleby could saddle Norfolk runner-up Wise Approach and the unbeaten Maximized, while Ed Walker's Do Or Do Not also brings strong form the table having finished second in the Coventry Stakes. O'Brien's sole representative is Curragh maiden winner Brussels, with Eve Johnson Houghton's Salisbury scorer Zavateri, Paul and Oliver Cole's impressive Goodwood victor Jel Pepper and Hugo Palmer's dual winner Tricky Tel others of interest.
South Wales Guardian
2 days ago
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Unsatisfactory scope scuppers Giavellotto's Newmarket defence
Marco Botti's stable star was a decisive winner of the Group Two feature on the opening day of the July Festival last season and rounded off his campaign with top-level success in the Hong Kong Vase. Having finished a creditable third in last month's Coronation Cup at Epsom, Giavellotto was being readied to defend his crown on the July Course before being scratched on Friday morning. Explaining his absence, Botti said: 'We scoped this morning, he had a few coughs and we weren't happy with the scope. Tomorrow (Saturday) he was meant to be doing a piece of work and we felt he wasn't going to be 100 per cent. 'It's disappointing because this race has been in my mind for a long time and there's not many left in the race, but on the other hand the horse's welfare comes first and if we feel he's not going to be 100 per cent, there is no point in going to the races. 'These things normally just take a few days and then they are OK and it's just unfortunate that we're so close to the race and were meant to gallop the horse tomorrow. We just felt it's not the right thing for the horse to gallop with a little bit of infection, but I'm sure it will clear up soon.' Botti is unsure where Giavellotto will make his next appearance, with a return to Sha Tin in early December top of his agenda. The trainer added: 'We have made an entry in a Group One in Germany in August and long-term we would obviously like to run him in Hong Kong, so we'll work backwards from that. 'As the season goes on into the autumn another thing we have to bear in mind is the ground, because he doesn't want it soft. 'He has an entry in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, but we made that entry a long time ago and I would say at this stage it's not a race we'll probably go for. All the other options will be considered and Hong Kong would be the priority basically.' A small field is guaranteed for the Princess of Wales's Stakes, with Charlie Appleby leaving in Arabian Crown and El Cordobes and John and Thady Gosden confirming both Military Academy and Palladium. The other contenders are James Owen's Wimbledon Hawkeye and the Clive Cox-trained Ghostwriter, who was last seen finishing third behind Godolphin's globetrotting star Rebel's Romance in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot. Six entries have been made for the Group Three Bahrain Trophy, including Aidan O'Brien's pair of Galveston and Scandinavia, with the former of particular interest after finishing third in the King Edward VII Stakes at the Royal meeting. Andrew Balding's Furthur, who came even closer to Ascot success with a close-up second in the Queen's Vase, also features. Nine juveniles are in the mix for what looks a strong renewal of Kingdom of Bahrain July Stakes. Appleby could saddle Norfolk runner-up Wise Approach and the unbeaten Maximized, while Ed Walker's Do Or Do Not also brings strong form the table having finished second in the Coventry Stakes. O'Brien's sole representative is Curragh maiden winner Brussels, with Eve Johnson Houghton's Salisbury scorer Zavateri, Paul and Oliver Cole's impressive Goodwood victor Jel Pepper and Hugo Palmer's dual winner Tricky Tel others of interest.
North Wales Chronicle
2 days ago
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Unsatisfactory scope scuppers Giavellotto's Newmarket defence
Marco Botti's stable star was a decisive winner of the Group Two feature on the opening day of the July Festival last season and rounded off his campaign with top-level success in the Hong Kong Vase. Having finished a creditable third in last month's Coronation Cup at Epsom, Giavellotto was being readied to defend his crown on the July Course before being scratched on Friday morning. Explaining his absence, Botti said: 'We scoped this morning, he had a few coughs and we weren't happy with the scope. Tomorrow (Saturday) he was meant to be doing a piece of work and we felt he wasn't going to be 100 per cent. 'It's disappointing because this race has been in my mind for a long time and there's not many left in the race, but on the other hand the horse's welfare comes first and if we feel he's not going to be 100 per cent, there is no point in going to the races. 'These things normally just take a few days and then they are OK and it's just unfortunate that we're so close to the race and were meant to gallop the horse tomorrow. We just felt it's not the right thing for the horse to gallop with a little bit of infection, but I'm sure it will clear up soon.' Botti is unsure where Giavellotto will make his next appearance, with a return to Sha Tin in early December top of his agenda. The trainer added: 'We have made an entry in a Group One in Germany in August and long-term we would obviously like to run him in Hong Kong, so we'll work backwards from that. 'As the season goes on into the autumn another thing we have to bear in mind is the ground, because he doesn't want it soft. 'He has an entry in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, but we made that entry a long time ago and I would say at this stage it's not a race we'll probably go for. All the other options will be considered and Hong Kong would be the priority basically.' A small field is guaranteed for the Princess of Wales's Stakes, with Charlie Appleby leaving in Arabian Crown and El Cordobes and John and Thady Gosden confirming both Military Academy and Palladium. The other contenders are James Owen's Wimbledon Hawkeye and the Clive Cox-trained Ghostwriter, who was last seen finishing third behind Godolphin's globetrotting star Rebel's Romance in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot. Six entries have been made for the Group Three Bahrain Trophy, including Aidan O'Brien's pair of Galveston and Scandinavia, with the former of particular interest after finishing third in the King Edward VII Stakes at the Royal meeting. Andrew Balding's Furthur, who came even closer to Ascot success with a close-up second in the Queen's Vase, also features. Nine juveniles are in the mix for what looks a strong renewal of Kingdom of Bahrain July Stakes. Appleby could saddle Norfolk runner-up Wise Approach and the unbeaten Maximized, while Ed Walker's Do Or Do Not also brings strong form the table having finished second in the Coventry Stakes. O'Brien's sole representative is Curragh maiden winner Brussels, with Eve Johnson Houghton's Salisbury scorer Zavateri, Paul and Oliver Cole's impressive Goodwood victor Jel Pepper and Hugo Palmer's dual winner Tricky Tel others of interest.
Rhyl Journal
2 days ago
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Unsatisfactory scope scuppers Giavellotto's Newmarket defence
Marco Botti's stable star was a decisive winner of the Group Two feature on the opening day of the July Festival last season and rounded off his campaign with top-level success in the Hong Kong Vase. Having finished a creditable third in last month's Coronation Cup at Epsom, Giavellotto was being readied to defend his crown on the July Course before being scratched on Friday morning. Explaining his absence, Botti said: 'We scoped this morning, he had a few coughs and we weren't happy with the scope. Tomorrow (Saturday) he was meant to be doing a piece of work and we felt he wasn't going to be 100 per cent. 'It's disappointing because this race has been in my mind for a long time and there's not many left in the race, but on the other hand the horse's welfare comes first and if we feel he's not going to be 100 per cent, there is no point in going to the races. 'These things normally just take a few days and then they are OK and it's just unfortunate that we're so close to the race and were meant to gallop the horse tomorrow. We just felt it's not the right thing for the horse to gallop with a little bit of infection, but I'm sure it will clear up soon.' Botti is unsure where Giavellotto will make his next appearance, with a return to Sha Tin in early December top of his agenda. The trainer added: 'We have made an entry in a Group One in Germany in August and long-term we would obviously like to run him in Hong Kong, so we'll work backwards from that. 'As the season goes on into the autumn another thing we have to bear in mind is the ground, because he doesn't want it soft. 'He has an entry in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, but we made that entry a long time ago and I would say at this stage it's not a race we'll probably go for. All the other options will be considered and Hong Kong would be the priority basically.' A small field is guaranteed for the Princess of Wales's Stakes, with Charlie Appleby leaving in Arabian Crown and El Cordobes and John and Thady Gosden confirming both Military Academy and Palladium. The other contenders are James Owen's Wimbledon Hawkeye and the Clive Cox-trained Ghostwriter, who was last seen finishing third behind Godolphin's globetrotting star Rebel's Romance in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot. Six entries have been made for the Group Three Bahrain Trophy, including Aidan O'Brien's pair of Galveston and Scandinavia, with the former of particular interest after finishing third in the King Edward VII Stakes at the Royal meeting. Andrew Balding's Furthur, who came even closer to Ascot success with a close-up second in the Queen's Vase, also features. Nine juveniles are in the mix for what looks a strong renewal of Kingdom of Bahrain July Stakes. Appleby could saddle Norfolk runner-up Wise Approach and the unbeaten Maximized, while Ed Walker's Do Or Do Not also brings strong form the table having finished second in the Coventry Stakes. O'Brien's sole representative is Curragh maiden winner Brussels, with Eve Johnson Houghton's Salisbury scorer Zavateri, Paul and Oliver Cole's impressive Goodwood victor Jel Pepper and Hugo Palmer's dual winner Tricky Tel others of interest.
