Minnie Hauk leads the way in Irish Oaks confirmations

Minnie Hauk, who got the better of a thrilling tussle with her stable companion Whirl to win the Oaks at Epsom, will face a maximum of eight rivals when she aims to double up in the Juddmonte Irish Oaks at the Curragh on Saturday.

The Frankel filly, who had won a trial at Chester prior to gaining Classic success, has been waiting for this weekend while Whirl has already franked the form by beating the year-older Kalpana in the Pretty Polly Stakes.

Her trainer Aidan O’Brien has not been as dominant in the Irish Oaks as the Irish Derby, but he still holds the record for the most wins with seven, with Savethelastdance two years ago his most recent.

As ever, the main danger to the ante-post odds-on favourite could come from within Ballydoyle. Whirl has been left in, but O’Brien did suggest after she won the Pretty Polly that the big two would be kept apart.

Bedtime Story, Butterfly Wings, Island Hopping and Merrily complete the six-strong entry for the yard.

Fozzy Stack’s Bay Colony, Johnny Murtagh’s Subsonic and Joseph O’Brien’s Wemightakedlongway are the only other confirmations.

O’Brien also has four of the eight in the GAIN Railway Stakes, including Queen Mary winner True Love.

First Approach, Flushing Meadows and Puerto Rico are his others, while Joseph O’Brien could run Green Sense.

Adrian Murray’s Power Blue and the Ger Lyons-trained Learntodoscover are also possibles.

George Baker’s Desert Cop, Mick and David Easterby’s in-form Canon’s House and Mick Appleby’s Kodi Lion are among 19 left in the Kwiff Supercharged Betting Scurry Handicap, for which Big Gossey tops the weights.