Confidential Waits On Weather

Confidential Lady's participation in the Darley Irish Oaks will hinge on the ground at the Curragh.

Connections of the classy filly, a ready winner of the French Oaks on her last start, will monitor the weather before letting her take her chance in the Curragh Classic.

Despite pleasing Sir Mark Prescott in a workout at Newmarket on Tuesday, Confidential Lady is not likely to run if there is a deluge of rainfall before Sunday's big race.

'A decision will be made over the next couple of days,' said Chris Richardson, racing manager for the three-year-old's owners Cheveley Park Stud.

'She seems fine and it will depend on how much rain they get at the Curragh.

'If we are going to step her up in distance we don't want to do it on heavy ground, so we will monitor the weather over the next 48 hours.

'She wasn't stopping at the end of the Prix de Diane but if she doesn't stay, we could always drop her back for something like the Nassau Stakes,' Richardson told the Racing Post.

Confidential Lady is one of 13 Irish Oaks entries at the five-day declaration stage.

Aidan O'Brien is responsible for odds-on favourite and Epsom Oaks winner Alexandrova, Fermion and Kushnarenkovo, while Sir Michael Stoute is double-handed at this stage with Scottish Stage and Short Skirt.

Britain could also be represented by Mick Channon's Kassiopeia and Rising Cross, who has been supplemented for the 12-furlong contest at a price of 40,000.

Ribblesdale Stakes winner Mont Etoile, trained by Newmarket-based handler William Haggas, has also been supplemented for the race.

Ardbrae, Arosa, Flyingit and Tom Taaffe's Dryandra complete the list of possibles for the Group One event at the Curragh.

? PA Sport