Irish Oaks Tips: Rely on Ryan for Classic success

There's classic action in Ireland this Saturday with the Irish Oaks taking place at the Curragh. Here we take a look at the runners and riders and nominate a best bet to place with bookmaker Boylesports.

14 runners have been declared for the Group 1 Irish Oaks run over 1 mile 4 furlongs and open to 3 year old fillies. Two Aiden O'Brien runners feature at the top of the market with the bookmakers lists headed by CONTENT who is the choice of jockey Ryan Moore.

This daughter of Galileo was behind Bluestocking and Emily Upjohn when finishing third in the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes last time out - a level of form that has earned her the highest RPR in the field. Whilst not exactly threatening the leaders that day, she was seeing out the 1 mile 2 furlongs well indicating that this mile and a half could really suit.

The horse passed over by Moore in favour of Content is PORT FAIRY who he partnered to Royal Ascot success in the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes last time. That was a real battling performance over today's 12 furlong trip so the decision to select her stablemate cannot have been an easy one. 

French raider DARE TO DREAM shows up highly on RPR's having won a Group 3 and finished fifth in the Group 1 Prix De Diane last time whilst War Chimes represents the Epsom Oaks form having finished third there behind Ezeliya and Dance Sequence.

The fascinating runner in the field is LOPE DE LILAS for champion jumps trainer Willie Mullins. It would buck the trends for.a filly who has only won a Maiden so far to come out and win an Irish Oaks but she is clearly highly thought of given her place in the market.  

Given Boylesports are paying four each-way places, it's tempting to look for a bigger priced alternative to the favourite. However, with the Aiden O'Brien yard in good form I think the winner will come from one of his two runners. Given Ryan Moore has selected to ride CONTENT, I think she's the one to back with the potential for a bit more improvement to come over this mile and a half trip.