FRANKIE Dettori will return to Bellewstown Racecourse on Wednesday, September 28th.

The star jockey will head up the inaugural Barney Curley Charity Cup in what the organisers hope will become a very special annual fixture.

Dettori put in an appearance at Bellewstown last September, in memory of his late friend Barney Curley, and the day raised over €100,000 for Barney’s charity, Direct Aid for Africa (DAFA).

Now a team competition has been set up, which will see Frankie leading the away side, opposed by a home team headed by trainer Willie Mullins.

Two teams of seven riders will go head-to-head over two races, generously sponsored by Gannon City Recovery & Recycling Services Limited and The Gallagher Group.

Points will be awarded to the first eight placed horses and the team that accumulates the highest number of points across the two races in the challenge will be deemed the winner of the Barney Curley Charity Cup.

Frankie said: “I was delighted to win the 2016 Irish St Leger for Willie Mullins on Wicklow Brave, but I’ll be selecting my team very carefully to try and beat Willie and his home team. Both of us will want to win the challenge, so I can guarantee it’s going to be ultra-competitive.”

This could well be a sold-out event so the advice is to buy your tickets now. Half of the €20 ticket price will go to DAFA.

Web: bellewstownraces.ie