Juddmonte Irish Oaks: guide to the leading fancies

The Classic bandwagon rolls back into town next weekend with the 2024 edition of the Juddmonte Irish Oaks at The Curragh. 

Aidan O’Brien will be hoping to add to his record-breaking haul of seven wins in the race, the most recent of which came just 12 months ago when Savethelastdance powered down the outside to collar Bluestocking in a memorable finish to the Group One showpiece. 

The Ballydoyle maestro will be looking to supplement his Irish Derby success with Los Angeles and it looks like the stable’s biggest chance of further success is with Ribblesdale winner Port Fairy, who heads ante-post betting.  

Here’s a look at the fillies dominating ante-post lists. 

O’Brien seeks an eighth Irish Oaks and Port Fairy looks the main Ballydoyle hope this time around. 

Narrowly denied in the Cheshire Oaks, this daughter of Australia took her form to a new level when gamely holding on to win the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot. 

She looks a thorough stayer, so expect her to be ridden prominently and given every chance of utilising those deep stamina reserves. With more to come, it’s easy enough to see her making that Group One breakthrough, although ground conditions might be very different with rain forecast over the days ahead. 

Only won two of her 10 career starts but posted a clear career-best when third behind Bluestocking in the Pretty Polly Stakes. The way she kept on from off the pace that day suggests she’s well worth a crack at this trip so although she’s more exposed than most in terms of runs, she could easily step up again over a mile and a half. Has attracted money in last few days and any rain that falls would be in her favour.

Willie Mullins has taken out some big Flat prizes in recent years, but the multiple Champion Jump trainer now has his sights set on a first Classic success with the Wathnan-owned Lope De Lilas. It’s a big step up in class for a filly that only won a maiden last time, the form of which isn’t anything to write home about (88-rated runner-up still winless in 6 starts) so it’s a big ask but she is lightly-raced, should stay the mile and a half, and is completely unexposed. 

French raider; quickened away nicely to win the Group 3 Prix Vanteaux  at Longchamp in April then posted an even better effort performance in defeat when beaten around two and a half lengths in the Prix de Diane, where she didn’t get a clear shot at glory down the inside. Bred to stay this longer trip, will be fine if ground worsens and looks a live player in bid to become first French-trained winner since Chicquita in 2013. 

More exposed than most having had run seven times but posted career-best effort when third in Oaks at Epsom, despite not looking at home on the track. Bred to stay even further than this so it would be a surprise if she was ridden as far back as at Epsom, and as long as this doesn’t become tactical, she’s got to be in the mix again. 

Supplemented this week. Outbattled late on by Port Fairy in the Ribblesdale but that form gives her a huge chance. Danny Tudhope, on board at Ascot, is adamant that she needs delivering late and she probably got there a touch too soon that day, so expect her to be ridden cold in her bid to provide David O’Meara with a first Classic. Seems to handle any ground.

This lightly-raced and progressive Sea The Stars filly is another supplemented runner. She came from a long way back to land the Listed Oaks Trial at Naas, where she found plenty for pressure and shaped like she’ll have no problem getting the mile and a half at the Curragh. Up significantly in class again but bred for job, going the right way and very much of interest at an each-way price.

Only two lengths behind Ezeliya at Navan in April but that gap grew to nine lengths in the Oaks, where Caught U Looking could only keep on at the one pace in closing stages despite having had a good run round. Worth another chance at a mile and a half but needs to leave that form a long way behind to figure here.