Lope De Lilas (Ire)

In the absence of Ezeliya (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks already had an open feel before Ryan Moore decided to give up the ride on the winner of one of this Classic's key pointers in Port Fairy (Ire) (Australia {GB}). Two of the last five Irish Oaks heroines had captured the G2 Ribblesdale Stakes en route, so the rejection of such a promising and unexposed winner of that Royal Ascot feature can only point to the strong claims of his pick from the Ballydoyle trio. Much more...

By Heather Anderson & Adam Houghton The Coolmore partners have a strong presence in the G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks, with Ballydoyle's Aidan O'Brien saddling three contestants in the 14-horse field. Highest on ratings is Group 3 winner Content, who is one of three among the 3-year-old fillies aiming to give her late, great sire his 100th worldwide Grade/Group 1 winner. The 1 1/2-mile Classic is not all about the former kingpin, however, as Camelot's G3 Staffordstown Stud Stakes winner Dare To Dream also lines up. The G2 Ribblesdale one-two Port...

A total of 14 fillies will line up for Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks, with Ballydoyle responsible for two live contenders in the G2 Ribblesdale Stakes winner Port Fairy (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and the G1 Pretty Polly Stakes third Content (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), with Ryan Moore siding with the latter on Thursday. Wayne Lordan will partner Port Fairy, due to renew rivalry with Elwick Stud's supplemented Lava Stream (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) who was runner-up in that Royal Ascot contest. Moore explained his decision on his betfair blog, "Content...

Ribblesdale Stakes runner-up Lava Stream (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) has been supplemented for the G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks at the Curragh on Saturday, along with course winner Hanalia (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). Trained by David O'Meara, Lava Stream was rated just 74 at the start of the season, but she has since been successful in a handicap at Doncaster and a Listed contest at Goodwood before faring best of the rest behind Port Fairy (Ire) (Australia {GB})--the ante-post favourite for Saturday's Classic--at Royal Ascot. Beaten just a neck...