JODIE Kidd officially launched this year's Polo in the Park by riding to the Hurlingham Club on a Harrods horse and carriage.

The pregnant model and TV presenter was joined by the six Polo teams set to do battle between June 3-5 as the event rolls into Hurlingham Park for the third year running.

Dozens of national and international press photographers descended to the exclusive Fulham club on Tuesday for the launch which also saw Miss Kidd make the draw for the opening games.

She looks set for a domestic battle after pairing brother Jack Kidd's Team New York against partner Andrea Vianini's Team Abu Dhabi in the opening round.

The players and Miss Kidd then trotted down to Hurlingham Park to lead a polo session for schoolchildren from Sulivan Primary and St John's Walham Green Primary Schools.

A total of 30,000 people are expected to pack into the park for the tournament with sponsors Harrods setting up a mini-store.

Miss Kidd said: "It is a fantastic event and such a wonderful setting. Polo is great fun to watch and is ditching its posh image. I hope people come down and see for themselves."

City Events Ltd CEO Roy Heron, who organises Polo in the Park, said: "This is a superb show and we think we are onto a winner. We have tweaked the rules of polo to make it more exciting and we believe we can put on a great show this year."

Polo has been played at the Hurlingham Club since 1874 and the Hurlingham Polo Association is the UK and Commonwealth governing body of the sport.

Gates will open between noon and 9pm. Tickets cost between £10 for child ticket and £45 for an adult in the grandstand. Call Ticketmaster on 0844 8472282.

POLO IN THE PARK

THE DRAW

Moscow v Sydney

New York v Abu Dhabi

Buenos Aires v London

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