15:25 Curragh

Saturday 17 July 2021

All13:1013:4514:2014:5015:2516:0016:3517:10

Juddmonte Irish Oaks (Group 1)

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 2m 34.36s

(4)

Ahandfulofsummers⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Chris Hayes| T: J A Stack| OR: 86| BF

80/1

Remains a maiden after 7 starts and surely out of her depth here.

Form: 320-352

(6)

Divinely³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 104| C

11/1

Course Group 3 winner at 2. Good 2¾ lengths fourth (Nicest narrowly ahead in third) to Loving Dream in Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot but she was well behind Snowfall when third in Oaks prior to that.

Form: 418-434

(2)

La Joconde¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: E J McNamara| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 90| BF

40/1

Fairly useful filly. Didn't need to be at best when winning 7-runner maiden (30/100) at Roscommon (10.2f, good to soft) 18 days ago, digging deep. Hard to see her being good enough here.

Form: 32-2401

(5)

Mariesque²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: S M Crosse| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 92

40/1

Off the mark at Gowran in June. 12/1, 4¾ lengths fifth of 10 to Willow in listed race at Naas (10f, good) 24 days ago. Open to further progress after only 3 starts.

Form: 4-15

(3)

Nicest³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Gavin Ryan| T: Donnacha O'Brien| OR: 105| BF

10/1

Made winning debut at Leopardstown at 2 and has taken her form to new level this year, 2½ lengths third of 13 to Loving Dream in Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot (1½m) last month. Dam won this race.

Form: 15-343

(7)

Party House^t²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 94

28/1

Debut winner. Better form in defeat since at listed level since but she was 6 lengths behind Willow when sixth at Naas latest. Can't make a case for.

Form: 136

(1)

Snowfall⁴³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 120| C| D

2/7

Massive improver for a step up to middle-distances, winning the Oaks at Epsom (soft) by a remarkable 16 lengths. Likely to face a quicker surface now but still can't be opposed.

Form: 4598-11

(8)

Willow²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 100| BF

15/2

Useful filly. Well-beaten last of 14 behind Snowfall in Oaks but bounced back with a 1¼m Naas listed win 24 days ago. Place claims.

Form: 31-7301

Forecasts

Snowfall (2/7), Willow (15/2), Nicest (10/1), Divinely (11/1), Party House (28/1), La Joconde (40/1), Mariesque (40/1), Ahandfulofsummers (80/1)

It's impossible to oppose SNOWFALL given the manner of her success at Epsom and she can end a bit of a barren spell (relatively speaking) in this race for Aidan O'Brien. Ribblesdale third/fourth Nicest and Divinely can battle it out for minor honours with last month's Naas listed scorer Willow.