The 2020 Juddmonte Irish Oaks: Runner-by-runner guide to the Curragh Classic

There is more Classic action at the Curragh on Saturday, with the Juddmonte Irish Oaks the feature race at 7.15pm on the eight-race card which will be shown live on Racing TV.

Sadly, Investec Oaks hero Love was not declared as Aidan O’Brien has decided to target the Darley Yorkshire Oaks with his star filly.

The master of Ballydoyle still holds a strong hand though in a race he has won five times, and is represented by four of the eight contenders, including Ennistymon who finished second to Love at Epsom.

The Juddmonte Irish Oaks has been won by the likes of Enable, Sea Of Class and Snow Fairy in the past ten years. Will we see another star emerge on Saturday? Here’s a guide to all the contenders plus a verdict.

Trainer: Jessica Harrington. Rating: 111. General odds: 2-1.

Positives: Progressive last season and finished fourth in the Group One Fillies' Mile at a track that probably didn’t suit on her final start in 2019.

Has some of the best form on offer and her seasonal debut run behind Magical was a decent effort, despite the fact she was firmly brushed aside by Aidan O’Brien’s globetrotter.

Shane Foley is also optimistic about her chances and it is likely Cayenne Pepper will come on for her run last time out. She is also the highest-rated contender in the field.

Negatives: Needs to prove she stays 1m4f and it was a shade disappointing she couldn’t give Magical more of a race last time out given she was receiving 12lb.

Any ease in the ground is also unlikely to suit her.

Verdict: High chance she will stay this new trip judged on pedigree and must be high on the shortlist for a race which is likely to have been the plan for some time.

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien. Rating: 107. General odds: 5-2.

Positives: Has taken her form to another level on her last two starts and progressed again to reverse Royal Ascot form with Frankly Darling in the Investec Oaks last time out.

Probably faced an impossible task taking on Love but fared best of the rest in that contest. Looks the Aidan O’Brien first string judged on jockey bookings and has one of the best pieces of form on offer next to her name.

Negatives: Finished seventh on her only start at the Curragh, although that was on her debut. Will need to be waited with on Saturday as she made a big-race move in the Investec Oaks before her effort petered out late on.

Verdict: Has progressed in each start so far and it’s highly likely there is more to come, so she has to be considered.

Trainer: Ger Lyons. Rating: 103. General odds: 11-1.

Positives: Has shown bundles of promise and performed with credit in defeat on her first start at the highest level in the Irish 1,000 Guineas, shaping as though she was in need of a step up in trip.

Showed a good attitude to defeat Laburnum in the Oaks Trial at Naas this month and an extra two furlongs here promises to suit.

Won’t mind a bit of cut in the ground and has been aimed at this race all season. Her battling qualities will also stand her in good stead.

Negatives: Her form is not as strong as some of the leading contenders and Laburnum was having just her second start in the Oaks Trial, so her inexperience may have cost her on the day. Has a bit to find on the ratings and will need to step up again.

Verdict: There’s plenty to like about this filly, but she may need a couple to disappoint to go close here.

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien. Rating: -- General odds: 12-1.

Positives: The further she went, the better she looked on debut having been the first off the bridle and she battled all the way up the straight when narrowly denied by Even So last time out.

Improved plenty from her first to second start, and it’s highly likely she will have plenty more to offer here for her powerful connections. She also seems versatile ground-wise.

Negatives: Wayne Lordan has chosen to ride Ennistymon and connections appear to hold stronger chances with their other protagonists.

It will also require a huge performance to win this on her third start against rivals with more experience.

She’s by Galileo, but there is not an abundance of stamina in her pedigree, and she is not guaranteed to be suited by 12 furlongs at this stage of her career.

Verdict: Laburnum clearly has a bright future and plenty of ability, but there are a few significant negatives that means she will likely prove vulnerable here.

Trainer: Joseph O’Brien. Rating: 106. General odds: 14-1.

Positives: Took a big step forward to win a Group Three on her second start and was not beaten far when suffering interference in the Irish 1,000 Guineas.

Won’t be hindered if the ground softens as her sole victory came on heavy ground and her trainer has been operating at a strike-rate of 21% in the past fortnight.

Negatives: Her effort in the Irish Derby last time out was underwhelming, despite the fact she was ridden to stay the trip, and she needs to prove her stamina over course and distance.

Verdict: Others look more persuasive and she needs to bounce back from her effort last time out.

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien. Rating: 100. General odds: 20-1.

Positives: Has the most experience in this field and fared better than the result suggests when fifth in the Investec Oaks last time out after attempting to keep up with the pacemaker for most of the way.

Was not far behind Frankly Darling and Ennistymon at Royal Ascot where Ryan Moore chose to ride her.

Remains unexposed over this trip and ought to fare better than she did at Epsom.

Negatives: Has a few lengths to find with the pair she finished behind at Royal Ascot and the form she has shown so far is below what some of the other leading players have achieved.

She may want further than this too as there is plenty of stamina in her pedigree.

Verdict: Aidan O’Brien looks to hold stronger claims with his other three runners in this contest.

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien. Rating: 106. General odds: 6-1.

Positives: Didn’t set the world alight in two starts last year, but is bred to be smart and has won two of her three starts stepping up in trip this season.

Has done nothing but progress and showed she has a good attitude when landing the Munster Oaks on her first start over twelve furlongs last time out.

This sister to 2018 St Leger winner Kew Gardens is not far behind Cayenne Pepper and Ennistymon on the ratings and it’s unlikely she will have finished progressing yet.

Negatives: Snow is unproven on soft, so any ease in the ground would pose a question. She will also need to progress again to land the spoils and she is yet to contest Group One level.

Verdict: Another career best will be required on Saturday and I would probably look elsewhere for win purposes.

Trainer: Ger Lyons. Rating: 101. General odds: 25-1.

Positives: Got off the mark in the style of a horse with a bright future when successful on debut at Cork last year and has shaped well in two Group Three contests this year.

Finished fourth on her first start over this trip behind Snow last time out and it will be no surprise if she finishes closer to Aidan O’Brien’s filly this time given that was only her third start.

Negatives: Work to do to reverse form with Snow and Colin Keane has chosen to ride stablemate Even So.

Verdict: Needs more to figure here and is another who may find a couple of these too good on her first start in Group One company.

This is now a more open-looking contest with impressive Investec Oaks winner Love not in the line-up.

Ennistymon boasts just about the best form on offer with her runner-up effort in the Investec Oaks, although she was put in her place by her stablemate on that occasion.

She is Aidan O’Brien’s strongest chance on paper and is the choice of Wayne Lordan.

However, preference is for CAYENNE PEPPER who Jessica Harrington said took a while to come to hand this season before warming up for this contest with a respectable effort behind Magical.

That will have blown the cobwebs away and vibes from connections are strong. I think she will stay the extra two furlongs on Saturday and prove too good for her rivals.