Irish Oaks shaping up well

The first three home at Epsom could do battle again in the Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh on Saturday July 20th.

Ralph Beckett achieved a memorable feat at Epsom when saddling both the winner Talent and runner-up Secret Gesture and he has confirmed that the former will take her chance in Group One Classic.

“Talent will attempt to follow up her Epsom success and Secret Gesture is under serious consideration to join her in the Curragh race,” commented Beckett.

The Michael Bell-trained The Lark finished third in the Epsom Classic and connections of the filly are considering supplementing their filly (at a cost of 40,000 euro) to the race at next Monday’s final entry stage.

Meanwhile, connections of the hugely impressive Ribblesdale Stakes winner Riposte have confirmed that they will supplement their filly.

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Liber Nauticus has had a small wind operation since finishing fifth to Talent at Epsom and connections are hopeful that the filly will be fully recovered in time to take her chance in Saturday week’s race.

Prix De Diane runner-up Chicquita has been confirmed a definite starter by her connections and she may be joined by the third home in that race Silasol. The latter will have to be supplemented, but connections have indicated that they are prepared let her take her chance.

Alive Alive Oh heads the home defence. The Tommy Stack-trained filly is unbeaten in two runs this season, and while she has missed her two previous engagements at Royal Ascot and the Curragh, the daughter of Duke Of Marmalade is reported to be back in top shape and ready for the task in hand.

Moth, which finished fourth in the Epsom Oaks but subsequently flopped behind her stable companion Venus De Milo at Naas, is one of seven Aidan O’Brien-trained fillies still left in the race.

That list also includes Just Pretending which finished runner-up to Riposte in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Jim Bolger, still on a high following his triumph with Trading Leather in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, has four horses left in the race, and is also considering supplementing Monday’s impressive winner Bunairgead.

“At the moment Scintillula would be our main hope,” he said. “However, we will have a long hard look at supplementing Bunairgead to the race. She loves fast ground and showed at Roscommon that she stays a mile and a half really well.”

Gordon Lord Byron, Custom Cut, Most Improved and Darwin are among 47 horses entered for the Group Three INVESCO Consultants Minstrel Stakes on the same afternoon.

The race has attracted seven British-trained horses, most notably Eton Forever, Pastoral Player and Pintura.

Racing also takes place at the Curragh on Sunday, 21st July when the Group Two Kilboy Estate Stakes and the Boylesports.com Rockingham Handicap are the two main attractions.

Alive Alive Oh, Bunairgead, Just Pretending, Caponata, Fiesolana, Princess Highway, Magical Dream, Moth and Venus De Milo are among 37 entries for the Group Two contest, while Cape Of Approval and Russian Soul share top weight in the handicap, which has attracted an entry of 54 horses.