Sunday’s Darley Irish Oaks looks well up to standard this year with Epsom Oaks heroine Snow Fairy facing 15 rivals at The Curragh. Ed Dunlop‘s daughter of Intikhab is bidding to become the 13th filly to complete the English/Irish Oaks double completed in recent times by the likes of User Friendly, Ramruma and Alexandrova. Sariska, of course, also managed the feat 12 months ago as did the brilliant Ouija Board in 2004, who was also trained by Ed Dunlop. Snow Fairy has made remarkable progress this year as few would have forecast the filly had classic potential after she was beaten in a handicap as a juvenile and finished tailed off on her final start of 2009. Now, one could argue, she may have gone over the top by the time of that Newbury run but the other thing to take into account is it was soft ground that day and they’ve had an awful lot of rain in Ireland over the last few days, even though the official going remains good as I write. Snow Fairy (4/1 with William Hill) will again meet Epsom runner-up Meeznah (11/2 with Paddy Power) at The Curragh as well as third Remember When (a general 10/1), while the first and second from Royal Ascot‘s Ribblesdale Stakes, Hibaayeb and Eldalil, also make the trip across the Irish Sea. The former is favourite for the Irish Oaks in some places but can be backed at 9/2 with Coral and I agree with the latter’s assessment that she is no certainty to uphold that form with Sir Michael Stoute‘s filly, who didn’t get going until the bird had flown in the Ribblesdale and should get a lot closer on Sunday granted luck in running. Eldalil looks too big at Coral‘s 7/1, while Ladbrokes‘ could be taking a risk with the 25/1 they are quoting about Desert Sage. It’s true that Ralph Beckett’s charge has only won a Chepstow maiden but her trainer has always held her in high regard and she’s certain to appreciate every inch of rain that falls between now and the off. A similiar remark applies to French filly Rosanara (4/1 general), who was second in the French Oaks last month and fourth in the French 1000 Guineas the time before, but the lightly-raced Eldalil gets a tentative vote to upset the apple cart.
- Eldalil to win the Irish Oaks at 7/1 with Coral
