Horse Racing: Confidence appears to be growing even further that Ouija Board will complete the English-Irish Oaks double at the Curragh on Sunday.
The Ed Dunlop-trained filly still has to be supplemented into the Irish Oaks at a cost of €40,000 but if that technicality is taken care of tomorrow then the bookmakers believe the race should be comfortable for Ouija Board.
The Cork firm Cashmans started betting on the race last Wednesday and, although Ouija Board has been odds-on ever since, she is now a red hot 4 to 6 favourite to become the first to achieve the double since Ramruma in 1999.
That Henry Cecil-trained filly is Kieren Fallon's sole Irish classic winner to date but the champion jockey will retain the ride on Ouija Board who hammered All Too Beautiful by seven lengths at Epsom.
Dunlop reported yesterday: "She has had a good break since the Oaks and the plan is to run. She seems well at the moment and we'll just keep our fingers crossed. All the form and breeding experts said she wouldn't stay at Epsom but she won in great style."
Aidan O'Brien is lining up All Too Beautiful for another clash with the favourite but there is a doubt about his other intended starter, the unbeaten Agenda, who was taken out of the betting by Cashmans yesterday.
The Ballydoyle trainer, who has yet to win the Oaks, finished runner-up for the last two years with Quarter Moon and L'ancresse.
The Curragh authorities haven't given up hope of the international element to the Oaks being boosted by the presence of German filly La Ina.
The Andreas Trybuhl-trained horse was beaten only a head by Amarette in the German Oaks at Hamburg last month and has been bought by the Team Valour outfit who eventually hope to race La Ina in the US.
Paul Hensey, the Curragh manager, yesterday reported the going at headquarters to be "good to firm" and not much change is expected by the weekend.
"If the forecast is accurate I don't think there will be much change. We are supposed to get up 10 millimetres today with further rain on Tuesday and Thursday but we don't know how much," said Hensey who hasn't ruled out watering the track during the week. He added: "If we feel it is necessary then we will water but no decision on that will be taken for a few days."
The Emirates Airlines Minstrel Stakes is also at the Curragh on Sunday and Aidan O'Brien will be represented by Solskjaer while he intends to run Cougar Cat in the Group Three Anglesey Stakes.
Before the Curragh takes prominence the summer festival season begins with a vengeance at Killarney's four-day July bash which begins this evening.
Michael Kinane makes the journey south for the ride on Fox Mask in the two-year-old maiden and could also pick up a division of the two-mile handicap into the bargain on the Clonmel hurdles winner Loudspeaker.
Jim Culloty returns to his home town and can make a mark with Spanish John in the opening maiden hurdle. The Pat Hughes horse ran second to Golden Triangle at Leopardstown on the flat last time off a mark of 82.
Emeranna drops a couple of furlongs from a victory at Wexford on Friday night but the Crowley runner won so well from Tibbie that the distance and the 5lb penalty may not stop her.
Cordyline's fourth to Rich Sense at Fairyhouse doesn't read badly and, off 64, Pat Smullen's mount is worth checking in the first handicap of the night.
IRISH OAKS BETTING
Cashmans: 4/6 Ouija Board, 3 All Too Beautiful, 7/2 Punctillious, 25 Danelissima.
