FOLLOWING the week-long extravaganza at Ballybrit, all eyes will turn to Dingle for the 2024 renewal of the racing festival.

From August 9th to 11th, the most famous of fields in Ballintaggart will be turned into a racecourse where the dreams of so many now famous jockeys came to fruition in years gone by.

One of the greatest advertisements for this unique racing festival is surely the local boy Jack Kennedy who was crowned Champion Irish National Hunt Jockey at the end of May this year.

The Mona Cappa man, who is now based in Kildare, brought the house down in front of his home crowd in 2014 when he landed the Dawn Milk Dingle Derby on Coola Boola.

Runner-up was Killian Leonard on Ballybrown Boy with Rossa Ryan in third on Let Him Go. Twelve months later this special race went to Dylan Browne McMonagle on Let’s Go for his uncle Adrian Browne.

Indeed, the Dingle Derby roll of honour also includes Orla McKenna, now head of bloodstock at Tattersalls Ireland who won it in 1983 on Tenderhooks.

Younger brigade

The class of 2024 is headed by Kian McNally, Julian Pietropaola, Nicola Burns, Dylan O’Connor, Patrick McGettigan, Adam Grant, Sam Coen and Adam Brown Sousa who will all be in a strong position in the battle for the leading jockey over the three days.

The younger brigade to watch will include Reese Holohan, Camillus Byrne, Zoe McMullen, Lily Walsh, Leah McGee, Jimmy Dalton, Brody Ferry, Nina Doherty and Jamie Orr. Likely to have their first festival experience in the 12.2hh to 14.2hh categories are Keano Goff, Billy Roberts, Tim Byrne, Caitlyn Goff, Tiernan McGill and Calum Mangan.

The reigning Dingle Derby hero Caro Quintero, owned by Maurice Ahern and Patrick O’Connor, will be back to defend his crown on Sunday afternoon along with the runner-up Verstappen for Kildare farrier Teddy Worrell.

Add in the brilliant Chloe’s Sam, Oldcastle winner Frederick, Taghmon winner Here We Go Again and Ballyconneely winner She’s A Freebie and the stage is set for another enthralling renewal.

The clash of Five Stone Of Lead and Baby Caro over the three days will certainly divide opinions in the 14.2hh division while the bankers of the festival would appear to be Little Fiddlers in the 13.2hh race, Little Chief in the 14hh race and Chloe’s Sam in the Laura Barry Ladies Derby. Racing will begin on Friday afternoon at 4pm with a 2.30pm start on both Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

Feature race on Friday evening is the Two Mile Derby Trial with the Golden Mile on Saturday and Lee Strand Dingle Derby on Sunday.

A shuttle bus will be running from the town each day while there will be a fully licenced bar, music and entertainment for all the family on course.

For the first time this year admission tickets are available online at dingleraces.ie/tickets.