The Group One Irish Oaks – 3yo fillies classic, 12 furlongs – is the weekend’s big race at The Curragh. Unlike its Epsom equivalent there’s plenty of form in the book by this stage of the season, which has sucked the value out of the market.
Fortunately this week’s rain has injected some juice into ground and market, throwing a curveball into the form book.
Royal Ascot winner Curvy won with plenty in hand last time out on quick ground. She had Irish 1000 Guineas winner Pleascach back in second, yet, suddenly without Ryan Moore due to injury and an easier surface, her 9/4 price tag looks short of value.
Aidan O’Brien’s Words, unbeaten in two starts on quick ground, also looks awful value at 7/2. He also saddles Qualify, a shock 50/1 winner of The Oaks, who, at 8/1 and coming off a course and distance defeat in the Pretty Polly Stakes, is impossible to back with any confidence – though neither would be a shock winner.
Jack Naylor makes no appeal given she’s never won beyond a mile and has been well beaten on her two starts this year. She’s fully exposed and 8/1 is too short.
Stellar Glow recently won her maiden at the 7th attempt but has to improve ten or so pounds to win this. Her best form is on a quicker surface so the big price doesn’t appeal.
There’s lots to like about Speedy Boarding at a big price. She’s unbeaten this season and looks to have been campaigned for this race. Preference is for Aidan O’Brien’s Together Forever, a Group One winner as a two year old, who’s not found her feet this season but has shown her best form on softer ground. She came good towards the back end of last season and at 12/1 she’s certainly capable of out running her odds. The trip is something of an unknown but she wouldn’t be entered if connections doubted her stamina – time will tell.
Leave a comment