Dubai Derby

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WHERE The Marker Hotel, Dublin

WHO Made in Chelsea‘s Millie Mackintosh, Brown Thomas marketing director David Field, Cora-Jane Wynne from O’Briens Wines, Jonathan Irwin from the Jack & Jill Foundation, Charlie Cullen from Boodles, Irish rugby players Rob and Dave Kearney, champion trainer Jim Bolger and his wife Jackie, and Irish designers Lucy Nagle, Mark T Burke, Joanne Hynes, Helen Steele and Heidi Higgins

The launch of the 2014 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby brought out a fiercely festive bunch to The Marker Hotel, as guests gathered to toast the annual event. Official Style Ambassador for The Irish Derby and former star of Made in Chelsea, Millie Mackintosh was there to mark the occasion along with IMAGE editor-in-chief Melanie Morris. Together, they introduced a selection of racing style looks from the Designer Rooms at Brown Thomas Dublin and spoke about what they’ll be looking for when judging The Most Stylish Lady Competition on Derby Day. Charlie Sheil, general manager at The Marker, welcomed guests on arrival, while The Curragh’s Evan Arkwright kicked off proceedings. Guests enjoyed a Bollinger champagne reception and nibbled on a selection of summer tasting plates, expertly prepared by The Marker’s head chef, Gareth Mullins, before a unique Irish Derby helmet installation was unveiled, featuring over 20 Irish designers and personalities who transformed regular racing helmets into works of art, all of which will be auctioned off, with proceeds going towards the Jack & Jill Foundation. Guests departed armed with Max Benjamin goodie bags, excited for the Derby Day festivities.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY ANTHONY WOODS