CURRAGH PREVIEW:A REPEAT of the epic Epsom battle between Sariska and Midday will be the mouth-watering prospect for many ahead of tomorrow's Darley Irish Oaks but just like the Derby a fortnight ago the weather could end up having another Classic impact.
Ground conditions were almost perfect at the Curragh yesterday, but up to a half an inch of rain is being forecast for today and that could yet turn Oh Goodness Me into an attractive each-way alternative to the ante-post favourites.
As things stand, however, it’s hard to argue with the bookmakers assessment that the English fillies will dominate and halt the home domination of this year’s Irish Classics.
Sariska and Midday fought out a memorable finish at Epsom last month with Michael Bell’s filly emerging best by a head after Midday looked an unlucky loser with Tom Queally failing to get a clear run early in the straight.
Jamie Spencer, however, was far from convinced that Sariska showed her absolute best either as he felt he committed her too soon in order to get the likes of Rainbow View off the bridle early.
She still won, though, and Bell was upbeat yesterday saying: “Everything she has done since Epsom has been good and I couldn’t be happier with her. I just don’t want a deluge over the weekend. If it gets very soft it makes it into a very different test altogether.”
Henry Cecil is also concerned about ground conditions turning soft for Midday but such conditions would be no trouble for a number of the home team. The unbeaten Beauty O’Gwaun won her maiden on heavy last year and is something of an unknown quantity having skipped Epsom after landing the Blue Wind Stakes against older horses at Naas.
The Noblesse winner, Grace O’Malley, would also relish a dig but whatever the conditions, ante-post odds of 16 to 1 about Oh Goodness Me could end up looking very generous. Jim Bolger won the Oaks with a 33 to 1 outsider in Margarula seven years ago and Oh Goodness Me brings Classic form to the party having run third in the Irish 1,000 on soft ground in May.
She is also a Group Three winner on soft and it could be costly to forget she started an 8 to 1 shot at Epsom where she ruined her chance by running too free in the early stages.
Aidan O’Brien, who is chasing four in a row in the Oaks with Chirkova and Roman Empress, runs both Beethoven and Air Chief Marshal in the Group Three Jebel Ali Anglesey Stakes, a race he has won in the past with star names like Oratorio.
However, the champion trainer may have to play second fiddle to Walk On Bye, one of two Tommy Stack runners, who made a winning debut when beating Mister Tee here last month.
Luminous Eyes bounced back to form with a narrow defeat by Glowing in a Fairyhouse Group Three and her versatility in terms of ground could swing the Listed Kilboy Estate Stakes her way.
Famous Name looks best in Group Three feature
FAMOUS NAME looks like he is heading back to France next month in order to secure an elusive first Group One success but today’s €70,000 Group Three feature at the Curragh will be doing very nicely in the meantime, writes Brian O’Connor.
The Dermot Weld-trained colt looks like having his ideal conditions in the Keeneland International Stakes – a nine-furlong trip on ground containing enough juice. He also looks to be coming here in very good form having annihilated his opposition to the tune of five lengths in a Listed contest over a mile on Derby day, a performance that has put Deauville’s Prix Jacques Le Marois onto his radar.
Runner-up to Vision d’Etat in last year’s French Derby, Famous Name also has a Group One second to his name in May’s Tattersalls Gold Cup. A top-flight victory is his number-one priority this season but this afternoon’s prize is not to be sniffed at.
Today’s other Group Three pot is the Minstrel Stakes where last year’s winner Jumbajukiba attempts to concede weight all round.
Jessica Harrington’s versatile horse ran into a hot one last time in Famous Name over a mile and before that was runner-up in the Greenlands over six. This seven furlongs could be ideal for him while it could be too far for the Wokingham third Rock Of Rochelle.
Unusually Aidan O’Brien runs three horses in the concluding nursery and Reggae Dancer, the mount of Seán Levey, could emerge as the best of them having finished runner-up to Bankrobber at Fairyhouse last time. However, Monday’s Roscommon winner, Musical Rain, could be tough to beat under a penalty.
O’Brien can strike in the opener with Devoted To You who should improve for a course debut behind her stable companion Cabaret.
