Alan Marron is back to preview Saturdays Irish Oaks card from The Curragh.
Folks we are fresh off four winners at Dundalk Stadium on Monday and we are back with another preview, this time we are at The Curragh for an excellent card on Saturday with the feature being the Juddmonte Irish Oaks. Snowfall was a very impressive winner of the Epsom Oaks and will be looking to land the double.
1.10 7f Juddmonte Farms Expert Eye Irish EBF (C & G) Maiden (2yo)
The barrier trials at Dundalk Stadium have proved to be a very good line into some future winners and Joseph O’Brien has a very interesting runner here in the opening race with ALMANERA.
This colt was very impressive in his barrier trial travelling well throughout and quickening up close home to win in cosy fashion.
This race looks a trappy contest but I think he looks to have plenty of ability and it may pay to keep a close eye on the market. The last two winners of this race were Lope Y Fernandez in 2019 and Mac Swiney in 2020.
The winner of this will have plenty to live up to but I think Almanera looks very smart.
Should be hard to keep out of the frame.
1.45 6f Dingle Whiskey Nursery Handicap (2yo)
Colin Keane and Ger Lyons will be looking to get Oaks weekend off to a flying start with JARVIS who looks to have a very solid chance in his first nursery handicap.
He will be in receipt of eleven pounds from the top weight Threebagsfull and that should be more than enough to see him in contention here. He has run three solid races in maidens and was fourth last time out at Limerick behind Snapius.
That would rate quite highly in this race as there was plenty of money around for Jarvis in the morning suggesting that team Glenburnie think plenty of him.
Should be hard to beat.
2.20 6½f (6f63y) Jebel Ali Racecourse And Stables Anglesey Stakes (Group 3) (2yo)
The first group contest of the afternoon looks quite a strong renewal of the Anglesey Stakes but it could be a quick double for Ger Lyons and Colin Keane with BEAUTY INSPIRE who was very impressive when beating Cowboy Justice on debut at this course.
He travelled sweetly for Colin all the way but when he asked him to go it was push button tactics and he quickened away very nicely.
If he can improve off the back of that then it will take a big performance from one of the others to lower his colours.
Takes all the beating here.
2.50 5f Sapphire Stakes (Group 2) (3yo+)
Chris Hayes gave ROMANTIC PROPOSAL a peach of a ride to win last time out and if he can produce the same tactics here with a willing partner she will be a tough one to pass.
The form of the race has worked out nicely as Loch Lein went to Deauville on the 11th July and landed a listed race for the Jessica Harrington team.
I was extremely taken by the way Romantic Proposal travelled through the race last time out. She got there easily and quickened when Chris asked her. It was visually very impressive and she deserves the step up to Group company.
She should have this race run to suit and much like my previous selection she will take plenty of beating.
3.25 1m4f Juddmonte Irish Oaks (Group 1) (3yo)
Snowfall produced an unbelievable performance when landing the Epsom Oaks and will be very short odds to land the Irish equivalent.
While WILLOW has plenty to find with the likely favourite she could be the one to chase her home and land the forecast for us.
She stayed on strongly to land the Oaks Trial at Naas last time out and the form got boosted this week when the second on that occasion landed an auction race of 21k at Killarney in impressive fashion. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Willow much shorter than the 14/1 that is quoted by www.baroneracing.com at the moment.
She will be staying on and most definitely could run on into a place.
Looks a solid place contender but would be in my thinking for the forecast also.
4.00 6½f (6f63y) Scurry Handicap (3yo+)
Dylan Browne Mc Monagle teams up with Dermot Weld here and they have a very good chance of success with HIGHTIMEYOUWON.
This horse renews rivalry with Ice Cold In Alex for a near two length defeat last time over seven furlongs at this course. I think the 6 ½ will be ideal for Hightimeyouwon as he needs to be smothered into the race and then get let loose inside the final furlong.
His stamina won’t be in doubt and if there is plenty of pace and the gaps open I think he will get his revenge on Ice Cold In Alex. This horse needs top of the ground and with good weather forecast over the weekend he is likely to get it.
At the time of writing he is a double figure price but I wouldn’t see that lasting long.
Will be hard to keep out of the frame with luck in running.
4.35 1m4f Kildare Village Ladies Derby Handicap (4yo+)
This doesn’t look to be the strongest renewal of the Ladies Derby and following her victory aboard Princess Zoe in this race last year, Jody Townend will be looking to follow up aboard ZOFFANIEN.
This horse hasn’t been seen since finishing fourth behind Jeff Kidder in the Grade One Juvenile Hurdle at Punchestown and while he has plenty of weight in this race, he looks a class above his rivals and should take all the beating.
He has some very solid hurdle form and that should be more than enough to give Jody Townend her second win in this race.
5.10 2m Aquaturf Handicap (3yo+)
Aidan O’Brien has trained the last two winners of this race with Cliffs Of Dooneen in 2018 and Il Paradiso in 2019 and he looks to have a very good chance of landing this race again with HECTOR DE MARIS who will be partnered by Ryan Moore.
This horse improved on his early season form when running a cracker behind Layfayette in the Lenabane Stakes at Roscommon last time out. That was good ground on that occasion and while much of his form seems to be on softer ground he seemed to handle it okay.
Effernock Fizz is likely to set a decent pace and play the hare but I think Ryan Moore will have all angles covered and come with a winning run close home.
Should be hard to beat.