Ribblesdale Stakes heroine Port Fairy is set to face a bumper field of 13 rivals in the Irish Oaks at the Curragh on Saturday.
The Australia filly renews rivalries with British challenger Lava Stream after her neck victory at Royal Ascot, although Paddy Power’s betting for the fourth Classic of the campaign suggests Lope De Lilas – trained by Jumps king Willie Mullins – will be her principal rival.
Port Fairy is one of three runners for Ballydoyle master Aidan O’Brien, who is chasing an eighth victory in the race, with stablemates Content – the pick of Ryan Moore – and Rubies Are Red also taking their chance.
The third, fourth and fifth from the Oaks at Epsom – War Chimes, You Got To Me and Caught U Looking – are also involved to provide further depth to the quality field.
The line-up for Saturday’s 15:40 also features Prix de Diane fifth Dare To Dream, the hat-trick seeking Naas Oaks Trial winner Hanalia and Gowran Classic second Galileo Dame.
The latest Irish Oaks odds are on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app, otherwise Timeform’s guide to the runners as well as betting tips from the racing boffins can be found below.
Irish Oaks 2024 verdict
Timeform: PORT FAIRY has improved a chunk with each of her four runs so is fancied to follow up her Ribblesdale victory and gain her biggest success yet. Lava Stream came in just a neck behind Aidan O’Brien’s filly that day and again rates the chief threat, although both War Chimes and Purple Lily can also have a say in a cracking Irish Oaks.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Irish Oaks 2024 runners and riders
The following horses have been declared for the Irish Oaks 2024.
Caught U Looking
Trainer: Noel Meade Jockey: C. T. Keane Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 9
Useful filly. Course winner. Good 9 lengths fifth of 12 to Ezeliya in Oaks at Epsom (12f, soft, 16/1) 50 days ago, faring best of those ridden prominently. Needs considering.
***
Content
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien Jockey: Ryan Moore Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 6
Useful filly. 12/1, good 4¼ lengths third of 8 to Bluestocking in Pretty Polly Stakes at this course (10f, good to soft) 21 days ago, never nearer. Yard having good spell. Likely to continue in form.
***
Dare To Dream
Trainer: G. Hernon Jockey: Alexis Pouchin Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 8
Useful filly. Latest win at Longchamp in April. 26/1, 2¼ lengths fifth of 14 to Sparkling Plenty in Prix de Diane at Chantilly (10.4f, good) 34 days ago. In the mix.
***
Elizabeth Jane
Trainer: D. K. Weld Jockey: C. D. Hayes Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 12
Twice-raced winner. 13/2, 3½ lengths seventh of 11 to Hanalia in listed race at Naas (10.4f, good) 24 days ago. Trainer going well. Difficult ask here though.
**
Galileo Dame
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien Jockey: D. B. McMonagle Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 14
Lightly-raced winner. Creditable second of 14 in minor event (7/2) at Gowran (9.4f, good to soft) 47 days ago, inadequate test. Up in trip. Yard having good spell. Plenty to find on form.
**
Hanalia
Trainer: John Patrick Murtagh Jockey: Ben Martin Coen Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 7
Thrice-raced winner. 16/1, won 11-runner listed race at Naas (10.4f, good) 24 days ago by ¾ length from Bellezza, suited by way race developed. Yard having good spell. Open to improvement.
***
Lava Stream
Trainer: David O’Meara Jockey: Daniel Tudhope Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 5
Promising individual. 2 wins from 3 runs this year. 20/1, excellent neck second of 12 to Port Fairy in Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot (12f, firm) 30 days ago. Enters calculations.
****
Lope De Lilas
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: James Doyle Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 1
Twice-raced winner. 1 win from 1 run this year. Won 9-runner maiden (9/2) at Leopardstown (10f, good to firm) 69 days ago. More is needed here though.
***
Madam Celeste
Trainer: G. M. Lyons Jockey: G. F. Carroll Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 13
Thrice-raced winner. 12/1, 3 lengths fifth of 11 to Hanalia in listed race at Naas (10.4f, good) 24 days ago, finishing well. Yard having good spell but no easy ask.
**
Port Fairy
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien Jockey: W. M. Lordan Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 11
Promising sort. Visored for 1st time, career best when winning 12-runner Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot (12f, firm, 12/1) 30 days ago by neck from Lava Stream, digging deep. Big shout.
*****
Purple Lily
Trainer: P. Twomey Jockey: William James Lee Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 4
Lightly-raced winner. 8/1, good 5¼ lengths fifth of 13 to Fallen Angel in Irish 1000 Guineas at this course (8f, soft) 55 days ago, unsuited by drop in trip. Significantly up in trip. Should progress.
***
Rubies Are Red
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien Jockey: Declan McDonogh Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 3
Lightly-raced maiden. 11/1, 13 lengths ninth of 12 to Port Fairy in Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot (12f, firm) 30 days ago. Yard in good form. Visor on 1st time.
***
War Chimes
Trainer: David Menuisier Jockey: Seamie Heffernan Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 10
Smart filly. 50/1, 4½ lengths third of 12 to Ezeliya in Oaks at Epsom (12f, soft) 50 days ago. Holds very good form claims.
****
You Got To Me
Trainer: Ralph Beckett Jockey: Hector Crouch Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 2
Lightly-raced winner. Creditable 2½ lengths fourth of 12 to Port Fairy in Ribblesdale Stakes (7/2) at Royal Ascot (12f, firm) 30 days ago, sticking to task. Tongue strap on 1st time. Possibilities.
***
Saturday’s Racing Tips
- Ruby Walsh’s horse racing tips for the Curragh on Irish Oaks day
- Rory Delargy’s Curragh tips for Irish Oaks day
Read More on the Irish Oaks 2024
- Gallop over to Paddy Power News for all the latest horse racing tips
- Irish Oaks trends and stats for Curragh 3.40 on Saturday
- When is the Irish Oaks? Curragh date, start time, runners and betting
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