NEWS ROUND-UP:GAGNOA, THE sole French entry for Sunday's Darley Irish Oaks, is a popular choice in ante-post betting for the weekend highlight at the Curragh but Johnny Murtagh is still set to ride the Aidan O'Brien-trained favourite Moonstone instead.
Murtagh was on board Gagnoa when she finished a three-length runner-up to Zarkava in last month's French Oaks at Chantilly.
The Andre Fabre-trained filly was purchased by the Coolmore syndicate after her two-year-old career and so far this season has also finished runner up in the Group One Prix Saint-Alary as well as scoring in a Group Three at Saint-Cloud in April.
Yesterday Gagnoa was cut to 5 to 1 by both Paddy Power and Cashmans for a Classic that Fabre won in 1993 with the Pat Eddery-ridden Wemyss Bight.
It is understood, however, that Murtagh will stick with the in-form Aidan O'Brien team whose seven-strong entry for Sunday is headed by the Epsom Oaks runner-up Moonstone.
Murtagh jumped off the filly he rode into fourth in the Musidora in favour of Adored at Epsom, but it was Moonstone who emerged best of the rest behind the impressive winner Look Here.
Moonstone, a close relation to a former Oaks runner-up in L'ancresse, is as short as 6 to 4 favourite to break her maiden tag with a classic win and O'Brien has suggested she could be joined in Sunday's big race by the trio of Adored, Ice Queen and Gentle On My Mind.
Murtagh has an outstanding record in the Irish Oaks having won it last year on Peeping Fawn when stepping in for the injured Kieren Fallon and also on Petrsuhka (2000) as well as the John Oxx pair of Winona (1998) and Ebadiyla (1997).
The Curragh appeared to escape the worst of any rainy conditions yesterday and the going on the round course remains officially "good to yielding". It is "yielding" on the straight track. "Any rainfall we're getting is intermittent. We will probably get some every day until the weekend but it is difficult to say how much," said the Curragh manager Paul Hensey yesterday. "What we can say is that the ground can't be as bad as it was last year."
Aidan O'Brien has declared US Ranger and Astronomer Royal among a final field of 16 for tomorrow's Darley July Cup at Newmarket which the champion trainer hopes will become a 13th Group One victory of an already hugely successful season.
The Golden Jubilee winner Kingsgate Native heads the betting for tomorrow's big race which is the most valuable sprint race in Europe. O'Brien has won it twice before with Stravinsky (1999) and Mozart (2001).
Eddie Lynam has left the option of Sunday's Group One Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly open for his Tetrarch Stakes winner Capt Chaos. The three-year-old also holds an entry in the Group Three Minstrel Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday.
This evening's meeting at Fairyhouse could be a good one for trainer Tom Taaffe and claiming jockey Adrian Joyce who can combine for a double with Schindler's Gold and Ice Warrior.
Ground conditions may play an important role in the novice chase with Salford City unlikely to relish too much cut while Valain's versatility in terms of going makes him an attractive proposition.
Paddy Power betting for Darley Irish Oaks:7-4 Moonstone, 3 Katiyra, 5 Chinese White, Mad About You and Gagnoa, 16 bar.
