IRISH OAKS DAY: SHAMROCK heads to the Curragh on Saturday for Irish Oaks day with the big race due off at 5.45. It’s one of three Group races on the card, and SHAMROCK previews each of them.
4:40 Michael Murphy Home Furnishing Minstrel Stakes (Group 3) (3yo+, Class 1, 7f, 8 runners)
Darwin finally got his season going in a Listed race at Fairyhouse last time out over six furlongs but he was all out to win by a short head over Russian Soul with Jamesie only a half length back in third. He won this last year and the extra furlong should again prove in his favour. The issue, as always, is the price and whether 2.44 represents any kind of value. It seems fair enough – he was an 8/1 chance when winning last year and it doesn’t look much tougher. He has a penalty for his Fairyhouse win but can overcome that and repeat his success.
5:10 Jebel Ali Racecourse & Stables Anglesey Stakes (Group 3) (2yo, Class 1, 6f 63y, 6 runners)
Just 2lb separates four of six runners at the top of the official ratings and despite the small field this looks really tricky. Toscanini and Dick Whittington are closely matched on Royal Ascot form – just a head separated them in the Chesham Stakes and I again expect Toscanini to come out on top over the shorter trip and provide a winner for Godolphin and Mick Halford.
5:45 Darley Irish Oaks (Fillies’ Group 1) (3yo, Class 1, 1m 4f, 11 runners)
Five long years without an Irish trained winner in this Classic but the home challenge is strong this year. Aidan O’Brien and Dermot Weld train over half the field between them and O’Brien’s runners include Palace who landed a winning nap for me on Monday. I’m not sure there’ll be an English trained winner but English form will hopefully hold strong and Dermot Weld’s Tarfasha can go one better than when second to the impressive Taghrooda in the Epsom Oaks last month. Volume was only a nose behind in third having not enjoyed the contours of Epsom.
SHAMROCK’S BETS:
NAP: Darwin (4.40 Curragh)
NEXT BEST: Tarfasha (5.45 Curragh)
WIN: Toscanini (5.10 Curragh)
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