Queen Elizabeth II may return to Ireland for Irish Derby

The Queen of England may return to Ireland next weekend – for a horse race.

The British monarch is all but certain to send her top horse Carlton House to the Curragh for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby on Sunday.

And there is a chance that the most famous race horse owner in the world could follow her well fancied entrant to Kildare just weeks after her first ever visit to the Republic.

Queen Elizabeth visited several attractions with a horse racing theme during her visit to Ireland including the National Stud at the Curragh.

But organizers of the prestigious Irish Derby have yet to learn if she will accompany her horse to the famous Kildare track on Sunday.

Evan Arkwright, commercial manager of the Curragh Racecourse, said: “A visit by the Queen is not to be ruled out but it is more likely the horse will come and she’ll stay at home.

“We’d be delighted if she came - her ancestors came to the Curragh down through the years.”

Whatever about the Queen, it does seem likely that Carlton House will look to take on the Aidan O’Brien fleet at the Curragh on Sunday.

“The omens are good,” added Arkwright. “We don’t know for sure but it is looking more than likely. It would be the icing on the cake for the Irish Derby.

“It would raise the whole profile of the race but it is a great race no matter what.”

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