The big races are coming thick and fast and Ireland’s penultimate classic of the season takes place on Saturday. Curragh‘s Irish Oaks has an illustrious roll of honour and the €500,000 event should be a cracking race once again. We’ve picked out an ante-post selection at a big price that can ran a huge race if lining up. Check out our free tips page for daily content across British and Irish racing.
Grateful is progressing very nicely this year and Aidan O’Brien’s filly is available at 33/1 in places. She put in a career best effort to get the better of her elders when winning a Group 3 over 1m6f at Fairyhouse last time. The daughter of Galileo was always doing enough that day, despite flashing her tail, and clearly had a little more up her sleeve.
O’Brien’s three-year-old got off the mark in a course and distance maiden last month and the form has since been boosted. Mother Nature finished second that day and she won nicely at Killarney earlier this week. Whilst there are no guarantees that Grateful have the pace for a Group 1 over this trip, one thing you can guarantee is that she’ll be doing her best work at the finish.
Galileo is running out of opportunities to claim his 100th individual Group/Grade 1 winner as a stallion and Grateful could well be the one to do it. Going back down to 1m4f is unlikely to be a problem and her profile suggests there’s plenty more to come. Stablemate Port Fairy is deservedly favourite but Grateful could provide the toughest challenge.
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