Inaugural ‘Derby Masterchef’ held to launch the Kildare Derby Festival

Jockey Leigh Roche in action with racing presenters Fran Berry and Kevin O’Ryan

Racing TV presenter Kevin O’Ryan, jockeys Leigh Roche, Billy Lee and Rory Cleary, TV star judge Brian Redmond, Curragh trainer Willie McCreery, jockeys Chris Hayes and Gary Halpin, Curragh trainer Johnny Murtagh and Racing TV presenter Fran Berry

Judging panel for Derby Masterchef Dancing with the Stars star judge Brian Redmond and Curragh trainers Johnny Murtagh with Willie McCreevy

Winning jockey chef Billy Lee with the Silken Thomas owner Brian Flanagan and Kevin O’Ryan

Evan Arkwright and Jane Murphy from the Curragh Racecourse on either side of Orla Murtagh the Chairperson of the Kildare Derby Festival

Kildare Town was filled with hundreds of people this week as they gathered to watch arguably the most unique outdoor cookery competition with five of Ireland’s top jockeys participate in the inaugural ‘Derby Masterchef’ to launch the Kildare Derby Festival.

Leading jockeys Chris Hayes, Billy Lee, Leigh Roche, Gary Halpin and Rory Cleary all felt the public pressure as they each had to produce a gourmet omelette in just five minutes. Each dish was then harshly critiqued by a famous and combative judging panel made up of Brian Redmond, best known for his starring role in the judging hotseat on RTÉ’s Dancing With The Stars, and legendary Kildare racing personalities Johnny Murtagh and Willie McCreery for the launch of the 45th Kildare Derby Festival. Each jockey was mentored by the chefs from representing five of Kildare’s top 5 restaurants and the crowd had a ball watching the attempts at fine cuisine with the judges in rare funny critical form and egged on by the brilliant co-commentators in Racing TV’s Kevin O’Ryan and Fran Berry who were in fine jovial form.

In the end Billy Lee took the title in a tense cook off with Gary Halpin as they attempted to concoct a tasty pancake much to the delight of the crowds who all went home with lots of tickets and offers from the Curragh Racecourse for Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby weekend which takes place from Friday 30th June to Sunday 2nd July.

The entrants to this unique competition to launch the big annual festival, which celebrates the running of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at The Curragh, were as follows;

Billy Lee representing the Silken Thomas Restaurant
Gary Halpin representing Hartes Restaurant
Leigh Roche representing Cunninghams
Shane Foley representing the Kildare House Hotel
Rory Cleary representing O’Dooles Restaurant
 

Now in its 45th year, the Kildare Derby Festival is set to be the best yet for 2023 with Nathan Carter heading up the free open-air events that run in the town in association with the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at The Curragh Racecourse. Running from Monday, 26th June until Sunday, 2nd July 2023, the week-long festival has something on offer for all generations including live open-air free music performances, the hugely popular Pooch Parade, a ticketed concert by leading Soprano, Claudia Boyle at the magnificent St Brigid’s Cathedral, the Kildare Derby Racing Legends Museum and much more. The festival draws to a close with Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Day on Sunday, 2nd July with a post-Derby party in Kildare Square featuring live music from Vegas Nights and special guests.

The 158th running of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby takes centre stage during a superb three day racing festival at the world famous County Kildare racecourse.   “Funky Friday” on the evening of 30th June kicks off the weekend with a competitive 7 race programme and a free concert after racing by Qween, established as one of the best Queen tribute bands around,  Saturday is Ladies Day featuring the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes and Kildare Village Ladies Derby with a performance from Kildare singer-songwriter Lea Heart, while Sunday is Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Day with an exciting line up of great racing, style and glamour, live music, tasty food and family fun. The event will come to a close on Sunday evening with a live performance from Spring Break.

See www.kildarederbyfestival. ie for the full programme of events.  A limited number of tickets for Claudia Boyle’s exclusive concert at the stunning St Brigid’s Cathedral on Wednesday, June 28th are now available from €25 and can be purchased at Kildare Heritage Centre or from www.eventbrite.ie. 

Entries for the Pooch Parade on Thursday, June 29th are on sale now at €10 per dog category and can be purchased from www.eventbrite.ie.