IT bodes well for next weekend’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby that last week’s competition offering five pairs of tickets for the classic raceday attracted the biggest entry we’ve ever had.

The correct answer was Colm McLoughlin and the five winners are Willie Lombard (Cork), Laura Reardon (Limerick), Mark Dowling (Kilkenny), Declan O’Connell (Dublin) and Lorraine Purcell (Wexford).

In attendance next Friday at the Curragh will be Kildare’s victorious All-Ireland Under 20s gaelic football team and management, and they will receive a presentation to acknowledge their outstanding achievement. Kildare’s minor football team who reached the Leinster Final will also be guests of the Curragh. Coached by Niall Cronin of the IHRB, the minors used the racecourse facilities prior to all their games for final instructions.

Niall was disappointed to see his boys knocked out by Kerry in their All Ireland quarter final but all was forgotten a few days later when Niall’s wife Leona gave birth to baby boy Ruadhán, a brother for Saoirse and Caoimhin. Congratulations to them all.