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Some 3 weeks after the Derby the Oaks will be run on Saturday at the Curragh.
There's a couple of G2s to bookend the Oaks starting with the Sapphire Stakes over 1000m with 9 to run. Believing is favourite on 5/4 for George Boughey and Ryan Moore riding has no doubt influenced the quote. We think Makarova can do it again for Ed Walker and Hector Crouch and that 13/2 sounds attractive. Valiant Force is also in the mix for Adrian Murray and David Egan and 5/1 the probably odds.
After the Oaks there's the Curragh Cup over 2800m with Vauban at least looking for a trip to Melbourne later in the year. Colin Keane has the ride and they are on 5/2. Tower of London is a lovely strong stayer and his win in Dubai was outstanding. He's 15/8 favourite here for O'Brien-Moore. Third in the market is the Aga Khan's Shamida who is on 13/2 for Dermot Weld and Chris Hayes.
The Oaks is over 2400m and it is our patriotic duty to go for Port Fairy here – by Australia out of a Fastnet Rock mare and on 4/1 for O'Brien-Lordan. She was favourite until Ryan Moore chose Content which made this daughter of Galileo become favourite at 11/4.
Lope de Lilas is owned by Wathnan and is with Willie Mullins and James Doyle will ride, She's by Lope de Vega out of a Galileo mare and on 9/2. And we will put in War Chimes who was third in the Epsom Oaks and David Menuisier has booked Seamie Heffernan for the ride and they are value on 8/1.