Top Tips for Irish Oaks Day It’s Classic day at the Curragh on Saturday, with the Group 1 Irish Oaks taking top billing, and Minnie Hauk is a red-hot favourite as she bids to follow up her Epsom success. The quality eight-race card also features three Group 2s, a couple of competitive handicaps and some potentially informative maidens. Harry Wilson has analysed the card and picked out his best three bets for Saturday’s action. Selections 14:00 Curragh - Big Gossey 15:05 Curragh - Mgheera 16:50 Curragh - Gavoo BetVictor Betting Offer If you already have a BetVictor account, check out more of the best betting sites and online casinos 14:00 Curragh - Big Gossey Course form can count for plenty in big-field sprints at the Curragh and you’d struggle to find more of a track specialist than Big Gossey, who can repeat last year’s win in the 6 1/2f Scurry Handicap. The eight-year-old has achieved all eight of his turf wins at the Curragh, as well as placing there on 10 occasions, achieving a Racing Post Rating of at least 100 on 21 separate visits (110-plus six times). He’s been in great form this year, beating subsequent Prix du Jockey Club winner Camille Pissarro in the Gladness Stakes at this track as well as finishing a half-length third in the Group 2 Greenlands Stakes and a close fourth in a Listed contest last month in two subsequent visits. He’s 12lb higher than when winning this last year, but he’s a better horse this time around and Robert Whearty’s valuable 3lb claim can help offset some of his welter burden. 15:05 Curragh - Mgheera The Group 2 Barberstown Castle Sapphire Stakes has gone to a British raider more often than a locally-trained horse in recent years, with the spoils heading back over the Irish Sea in seven of the last 10 years. That looks likely to be the case again as the Ed Walker-trained Mgheera holds standout claims with Ryan Moore in the saddle. Formally trained by Manon Scandella-Lacaille in France, for whom she won a Listed race, the five-year-old daughter of Zoustar is unbeaten in two starts since moving to Britain, following her victory in the Group 3 Prix de Saint-Georges with a success in the Temple Stakes when last seen in May. That latest win could hardly have worked out better, with Washington Heights (third) landing the Listed City Walls Stakes, American Affair (fifth) winning the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot and the reopposing Rumstar (sixth) beating She’s Quality (runner-up) in the Group 3 Charge at Sandown two weeks ago. She was withdrawn at the stalls having spread a plate before her intended next start at Royal Ascot, but that could work in her favour as she arrives fresher than most and she should be suited by the likely strong pace on offer. 16:50 Curragh - Gavoo David Marnane won the 6f nursery on this card two years ago and can repeat the feat with Gavoo, who looks underestimated by an opening mark of 83. He looked raw and babyish on his debut over course and distance in May but, having been pushed along a fair way from home, he picked up well in the closing stages to take second behind the useful Andab, who has since finished fourth in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot. He delivered on that promise at Limerick next time, scoring comfortably in a good time having pulled clear with the runner-up, and can likely be forgiven a poor run at Royal Ascot on the quickest ground he’s encountered. He’s got by far the best Topspeed figure in this field and can make an impact now his sights have been lowered.
