The top of the Darley Irish Oaks betting is dominated by home-trained fillies but the shape of the cross-channel challenge will become clear at Tuesday’s vital forfeit stage with some heavy UK hitters gearing up to take the classic challenge.
The Curragh authorities anticipate that John Gosden will attempt to add to Jack Hobbs' Derby victory over a fortnight ago by running Gretchen in Saturday evening's €400,000 classic, while Crystal Zvezda could try to enhance Michael Stoute's unparalleled Irish Oaks record.
The legendary Newmarket trainer has won the race on half a dozen occasions, beginning with Fair Salinia back in 1978. "It will become a lot clearer at the supplementary stage but it looks like Sir Michael Stoute might send Crystal Zvezda and John Gosden is likely to run Gretchen in the race," said the Curragh manager Paul Hensey.
Surprise win
“
Hugo Palmer
has indicated he will supplement Covert Love into the race (at a cost of €40,000) and
James Fanshawe
could run his filly [Speedy Boarding] too.”
Bracelet brought to an end of a run of five-straight overseas victories in the Irish Oaks with her surprise win last year and her trainer Aidan O’Brien has the current 11-4 ante-post favourite Diamondsandrubies, winner of the Pretty Polly Stakes over the Derby weekend. Ground conditions at the Curragh are currently “good to firm” with a changeable weather forecast in the week ahead with up to 10mm of rain anticipated for Thursday.
“I wouldn’t rule out watering completely but if we get the rain that’s forecast I would say it is unlikely we will have to,” Hensey said.
The Presidential colours will be carried in this evening's Killarney opener when the in-form John Oxx saddles Aimhirgin Lass in an extended mile maiden. The daughter of Pivotal was beaten seven and a half lengths on her Curragh debut behind Eshera but should step up for the experience and may be a better option than the JP McManus-owned Boherbuoy who hasn't run since his March debut.
Interesting runner
McManus will be a major player at both Killarney and Downpatrick’s afternoon card although
Barry Geraghty
is on duty at the Co Kerry track where he teams up with Aidan O’Brien’s King Leon in the second of the handicap chases.
The most interesting runner of the day however looks to be the 2014 Cheltenham Bumper hero Silver Concorde who turns out under Finny Maguire in Killarney’s amateur race.
Dermot Weld’s star won his sole flat start to date last October but a subsequent, and much anticipated jumping campaign, fizzled out in two runs, the last of them behind Nicholls Canyon in February.
He has to concede weight to half a dozen opponents but if near his best should be up to the task.
