Dunlop plays down Ouija Board´s chances

Ed Dunlop and Kieren Fallon have spent the week declaring they are not counting any chickens ahead of Ouija Board´s attempt on the Darley Irish Oaks, but it´s hard to see any other outcome but the two men counting their own second wins in the race.

The Newmarket trainer scored with Lailani in 2001 and Fallon´s sole Irish classic success to date was on Ramruma in 1999.

That was also the last time a filly completed the Epsom-Curragh Oaks double and if ever there looked a contender to join that select group, it must be Ouija Board.

If she wins tomorrow, it will be just the sixth double-up in the last 25 years and it´s difficult to argue with the bookmaker´s view that she is odds on to do it.

Ouija Board left the impression she is one of the better Oaks winners with her seven length defeat of All Too Beautiful at Epsom.

On that occasion, Punctilious was another three and a half lengths back in third.

Those two look the main dangers again but there doesn´t appear to be any substantial reason that they can reverse those sort of distances.

Understandably, Dunlop has attempted to point out how both the Ballydoyle and Godolphin hopes will be better suited by the Curragh than the gradients at Epsom.

But if All Too Beautiful and Punctilious weren´t in love with Epsom then Ouija Board didn´t appear to free-wheel down the hill to the straight either.

That she managed to win so impressively on straightening up speaks volumes for her raw talent.

Yesterday, Aidan O´Brien, chasing a first Oaks victory, admitted he is just 'hoping' that All Too Beautiful can reverse the Epsom form.

'She got a little unbalanced in the straight at Epsom and we´re hoping the galloping track at the Curragh will suit her better,' he said. 'She had only two soft races going to Epsom so we´re hoping she can improve.

'O´Brien also runs the outsider Royal Tigress while John Oxx and Jim Bolger, who have both won the race twice before, are represented by Hazarista and Danelissima respectively.

Hazarista looks the best of that lot, especially with the boost to her Group Three win in May that Cache Creek has provided, but the argument that Ouija Board´s opposition will like the Curragh better doesn´t rule out the favourite thriving on the course too.

Nor does it take into account the improvement she is also due on just her fourth career start.

Fallon might have failed in his Derby double attempt but Oaks day looks like being a lot kinder to him.

The champion jockey is on Indesatchel for David Wachman in the Group Three Anglesey Stakes.

While Turnkey and the O´Brien duo bring some Ascot form to this party if there is a possible top-notcher in the field it looks like being Indesatchel.

This colt was well backed to win his maiden over seven furlongs here at the Derby meeting.

Following that victory, Wachamn didn´t attempt to hide his enthusiasm for the future.

The drop back to six furlongs is a worry but talent can win out.

Four of the runners in the Minstrel Stakes are from Britain and they include the former Dewhurst winner Tout Seul.

The best of them, however, may be Trade Fair who has not fulfilled the potential he showed as a younger horse.

But he could still be at a level above these if improving for his last race at Newmarket.

Tropical Lady is on a five-timer in the Listed race and the Bolger filly is difficult to oppose while her stable companion Leeside Music looks on an eye-catching weight in the mile handicap. Bolger´s other big chance is the Nursery hope Roman Rose whose Tipperary defeat of King Of Tory reads well despite the furlong less to travel tomorrow.

Nina Carberry´s presence on Moy Joy in the Ladies Derby will help sway a lot of punters but Caroline Hutchinson will give the Roscommon maiden winner Guilt every assistance and the trip is interesting for this one.