We have barely had time to recover from the five days of Royal Ascot 2025, and we are thrown back into another weekend of Group 1 action. The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival, which spans three days, takes center stage this week. Day one may not have the big-name draws as the rest of the Irish Derby Festival will have, but today is the time for the apprentices to have their day in the sun. The 16 apprentices will battle it out for the Apprentice Derby, a race that serves as a platform for emerging talent and often sets the stage for future champions.Get the best odds for the Irish Festival day one with the best online horse racing bookmakers here.Quick Irish Derby Festival day one tipsWin singles 4:50 Lock 13 Gastropub & Brewpub Irish EBF Maiden: Puerto Rico5:20 O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey Irish EBF Fillies Maiden: Cape Sounion5:50 JJ Mahon & Sons Handicap: Four Blondes6:20 Silken Thomas Kildare Town Irish EBF Median Auction Maiden: Boogie Inthejungle6:50 James Nolan’s Bar Kildare Town Handicap: Refreshment7:25 Diageo Luxury Spirits Irish EBF Maiden: Game Point8:00 Fitzpatrick’s Mercedes-Benz Apprentice Derby Handicap: Crassus 4:50 Lock 13 Gastropub & Brewpub Irish EBF Maiden: 6fA decent 6f maiden to kick off proceedings for the 2025 Irish Derby Festival. Starred and Cape Cod look the most interesting out of the newcomers, but they will have to be above average here to make a winning start. Learntodiscover was over two lengths ahead of Ennoble on their debuts over course and distance, where the Ger Lyons runner looked to get the hang of things late on. He looks sure to take a step forward for that experience, but he may have to settle for a supporting role here. PUERTO RICO finished fourth on debut in a course and distance maiden behind the useful-looking Flushing Meadows. The third has since gone on to win next time out by over five lengths, giving substance to the form. The Ballydoyle runner took a while to get a hang of things, but when the penny dropped, he ran on well to grab fourth in the closing stages. He looks the type that will show considerable improvement from that experience and should prove hard to beat.PUERTO RICOTrainer: Ryan MooreJockey: Aidan O’BrienForm: 4Age: 2Weight: 9st 7lb Bet on PUERTO RICO with Betfred 5:20 O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey Irish EBF Fillies Maiden – 7fThere was plenty of support for Composing on debut (14/1 into 3/1), but the money went astray as the daughter of Wootton Bassett showed her inexperience. She will come on leaps and bounds for that, and it will be interesting to see if her supporters return here. However, it is worrying that Ryan Moore has chosen to ride Minerva instead. Minerva was sent off at 8/15 for her debut at Leopardstown but never looked as if she was going to land a telling blow. The form of that has been boosted by the winner going on to finish third in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot, but even so, it can pay to give CAPE SOUNION another chance to get off the mark. The daughter of No Nay Never was sent off 7/4 for a strong maiden over 6f here on Irish Guineas weekend but could not reel in her lesser fancied stablemate Balantine, who has since gone close at Royal Ascot. She steps up to 7f for the first time, which should bring out more from Cape Sounion, and she can get off the mark at the third time of asking.CAPE SOUNIONTrainer: Donnacha O’BrienJockey: Gavin RyanForm: 22Age: 2Weight: 9st 2lb Bet on CAPE SOUNION with SBK 5:50 JJ Mahon & Sons Handicap – 7fA handicap not to get too excited about, with a lot of the runners showing very little coming in here. However, the one who did show that he was about to strike prior to his near miss at Gorwan Park is FOUR BLONDES. She was showing a glimpse that a return to form was just around the corner, and the application of the first-time hood nearly paid off when chasing home Declaree at Gorwan. She was over two lengths ahead of the third that day, and even with a 3lb rise, a repeat of her Gowran run may be enough to get her head back in front here. Dark Viper, who has run well here in the past off lower marks, should be capable of being there or thereabouts in the finish, as can Ribchestina, who wears a first-time hood.FOUR BLONDESTrainer: Ross O’SullivanJockey: Donagh O’ConnorForm: 28-002Age: 4Weight: 9st 7lb Bet on FOUR BLONDES with talkSPORT BET 6:20 Silken Thomas Kildare Town Irish EBF Median Auction Maiden – 1mThis is a weak maiden for the weekend that is in it, and it won’t take much winning. Made You Blush sets the standard on her third at Leopardstown two starts back, but it certainly is not insurmountable form. BOOGIE INTHEJUNGLE was fourth on debut back in October over six furlongs, and, with normal improvement expected with the step up to one mile, the Gavin Cromwell runner can make a winning return to the track. Henry de Bromhead’s runners on the flat have been running well, and should support come for Ithacan Queen, then she becomes even more interesting.BOOGIE INTHEJUNGLETrainer: Gavin CromwellJockey: Gary CarrollForm: 4-Age: 3Weight: 9st 3lb Bet on Bet on BOOGIE INTHEJUNGLE with bet365 6:50 James Nolan’s Bar Kildare Town Handicap – 1mThe in-form pairing of Genuine Jim and seven-pound claimer Nicola Burns will look to continue their good run of form by recording back-to-back wins. The pair made up for a near miss at Leopardstown when getting well on top in the finish at Cork. Since that win in April, Genuine Jim has been gelded and put up nine pounds, but if he is ready to go on his first start since his latest win, he will be bang there. But the one they all have to beat is the hat-trick-seeking REFRESHMENT. The Mark Foley-trained three-year-old is in a rich vein of form, winning his last two starts. He has gone up a total of 13lb for those two wins, but the manner of his win last time out would suggest that his new mark may be well within reach. He won’t mind if the rain arrives, and it should be hard to beat.REFRESHMENTTrainer: Mark FaheyJockey: Gavin RyanForm: -64611Age: 3Weight: 9st 3lb Bet on REFRESHMENT with Paddy Power 7:25 Diageo Luxury Spirits Irish EBF Maiden – 1m2fAnother poor maiden where many of the 20 runners can be ruled out, and concentrating on three runners with experience looks the way to go. Our Friend Mouse ran well on debut over the course and distance behind Propose. He has been gelded since that run and should have more to offer here. Another with a leading chance is Tswalu, who somehow was run down by Royal Entry in a Cork maiden in May. The winner has since gone on to run well in a listed race and then went on to win the Ulster Oaks at Down Royal. That form is good and gives her a good chance here. The 88-rated GAME POINT filled the runner-up spot on three of his four starts but has been unlucky to bump into some decent performers. He looks set to run his race again, and if he can hold his form once again, Game Point can finally get off the mark.GAME POINTTrainer: Ger LyonsJockey: Colin KeaneForm: 42-22Age: 3Weight: 9st 8lb Bet on GAME POINT with Ladbrokes 8:00 Fitzpatrick’s Mercedes-Benz Apprentice Derby Handicap – m14fThe 2025 Apprentice Derby is as competitive as a handicap as they come. In races like this, it’s sometimes best to side with jockeys who have plenty of experience. Jr Mahon may be 3lb out of the handicap, but ran a solid race at Limerick when sent off as joint-favourite. He secures the services of Keith Kennedy, which is a significant advantage and should run well for Jessica Harrington. Another interesting one is Bruan, who comes in here on the back of causing a shock over hurdles when getting the better of Boston Rajj at odds of 40/1. It’s not the first, and it won’t be the last time that we see a Tony Martin runner improve out of the blue, and if he can translate that improvement back on the flat, then there is every reason to expect a big run from this four-year-old. However, a chance is taken that 2023’s third-place finisher CRASSUS can go two places better this time around. This three-time flat winner had a pipe opener at Killarney after 542 days on the sidelines. He shaped well that day, suggesting that there is plenty of life left in this eight-year-old. Even though he is 6lbs higher in the weights than for his last win, his experience in races like this, combined with course form and an experienced jockey, can spark an improved showing from Crassus.CRASSUSTrainer: Noel MeadeJockey: James RyanForm: 1473/8Age: 8Weight: 9st 13lb Bet on CRASSUS with Tote Irish Derby Festival day one scheduleTIMERACEDISTANCE4:50Lock 13 Gastropub & Brewpub Irish EBF Maiden6f5:20O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey Irish EBF Fillies Maiden7f5:50JJ Mahon & Sons Handicap7f6:20Silken Thomas Kildare Town Irish EBF Median Auction Maiden1m6:50James Nolan’s Bar Kildare Town Handicap1m7:25Diageo Luxury Spirits Irish EBF Maiden1m2f8:00Fitzpatrick’s Mercedes-Benz Apprentice Derby Handicap1m4f How to watch the Irish Derby Festival day oneLocation: Curragh, Newbridge, Co. Kildare, IrelandDate/Time: Friday, June 27th. First race 4:50.TV/Streaming: Racing TV.About the authorAndrew HalliganMy name is Andrew Halligan, horse racing pundit and founder of YouTube’s The Finishing Line Podcast. Horse racing is a thrilling spectacle that captivates audiences around the world with its blend of drama and excitement. Whether you’re a jumps or flat fan, I will use my experience of working within the horse racing industry to bring the best of what this sport has to offer.You can follow Andrew on X (@Halligan88).Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. T&Cs apply. 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