Irish Oaks Guide 2021

Having needed her first two runs as a juvenile, she got off the mark at The Curragh at the third time of asking in a Fillies' Maiden.

However, since then she has raced four times between seven furlongs and a mile in decent graded events and has struggled being outclassed.

Stepping up in trip on debut this term brought bring improvement out of her, when winning the Group Three Musidora Stakes at York over 10.5f.

Many thought off the back of that she should have been closer in the market to her stablemate Santa Barbara, and they were right.

Snowfall went on to take the event with ease, winning by a record 16 lengths for Aidan O'Brien and jockey Frankie Dettori and that saw the handler land the event for the ninth time.

She is the big odds on favourite to land the Oaks double and if performing anything like she did at Epsom then she will not be beaten.

Future star.

Donnacha O'Brien is represented by sole entrant, Nicest, in the race, in search of the trainers first Irish Oaks win.

Nicest, improved for the step up to Group company last time out when finishing 3rd in the Ribblesdale (G2, 12f) on the back of 3rd (11.5f) and 4th (10f) placed finishes in listed company in her 2 races prior.

The daughter of American Pharoah's dam, Chiquita, was a winner of this race in 2013 and improvement looks likely again here with 12f seemingly the key to this horses' potential.

The second A P O'Brien entrant, Divinely, has stepped up massively this season as a 3yo since being upped in trip to the 12f distance.

The daughter of Galileo ran on well to finish 3rd in the Group 1 Cazoo Oaks (12f) on her penultimate start before a respectable 4th placed finish in the Ribblesdale (12f) last time out upon fast ground unlikely to have suited.

She's got solid claims for a place in this race, however has plenty to find on Snowfall who was 17 lengths clear in the aforementioned Cazoo Oaks.

A third Aiden O'Brien entrant in the form of Willow, was a respectable 3rd on her seasonal return at Naas in a Group 3 (10f).

The daughter of American Pharoah was less impressive when subsequently stepping up to 12f however in the Cazoo Oaks (G1) and finished an eventual last place.

Having said this, she made it clear that a line should be put through that run when winning in listed company next time out in the Oaks trial and the good ground encountered that day looks to have been key in getting her back to winning ways.

The step back up to 12f on better ground may just have her in with an outside chance here.

Aiden O'Brien's final entrant, La Jaconde, is a notable prominent/ front runner in the field who looks likely to go forward in this affair.

The daughter of Frankel finished 4th on her step up to listed company at Chester (11.5f) this season before subsequently finishing a well-beaten 11th in the Cazoo Oaks (G1, 12f) behind stablemate and re-opposing rival, Snowfall.

Her workmanlike maiden win last time out at Roscommon was a good effort, however it's looking very likely that her sole purpose in this race is to set a good gallop to tee up her stablemate Snowfall for the win.

Joseph O'Brien looks to have a useful type on his hands in the form of Mariesque and his commitment to throwing her into Group 1 action on just her 4th ever start should alone, speak highly of her abilities.

The daughter of Lawman stepped up on her debut effort to land a maiden at Gowran Park (9.5f) however only managed 5th on her step up to listed company next time out in the Naas Oaks Trial (10f) behind Willow.

Improvement looks likely once more here for the step up to 12f, however she does look to have a task on her hands in finding 4 1/2 lengths on Willow.

Another lightly raced filly, Party House, for Ger Lyons, was an impressive winner on debut at Naas (10f) and looked nothing short of a good things.

The daughter of Camelot travelled well for a long way when subsequently stepped up into listed company next time out at Navan over 13f, however ultimately didn't look to stay the trip and faded into 3rd behind a pair of Aiden O'Brien colts.

Her 6th placed finish in the Oaks Trial (10f) last time out behind Willow and Mariesque leaves her with a fair bit to find.

Ahandfulofsummers remains a maiden after 7 runs despite having ran respectable and placed efforts in the past, including a runner up finish in the Flame of Tara stakes (G3) as a 2yo.

Despite this, her form doesn't look to have worked out and her current levels fall well short of what is expected of a potential Irish Oaks and Group 1 winner.