Irish Oaks Trends

The Kerrygold Irish Oaks is Ireland's fourth Classic of the season, and is unique to that of Britain - with the Derby and Oaks at different weekends of June and July.

The Oaks is a Group One open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies, run over the mile-and-a-half distance at the Curragh Racecourse.

The event was established in Ireland in 1895, and was originally contested over a mile.

Extended to its present length in 1915, the field usually consists of horses who ran in the Epsom equivalent, of which several have won both races.

Most recently done by Enable, the Yorkshire Oaks could be the next stepping stone for the winner here, where Blue Bunting in 2011 was the last to do the double.

This year thirteen fillies will be going to post on Saturday - three from England and six from the stable of Aidan O'Brien, so let's look at some common trends.

As mentioned, many horses may come to the Curragh to content this race off the back of running in the Investec Oaks at Epsom, or perhaps the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot.

Half of the last sixteen winners of this race ran on the Downs last time out, with five of them winning the British Classic.

Regardless where, all bar one of the last sixteen winners of this contest had raced in the last six weeks, with one less finishing first or second last time out (ten winning).

Nine of the last sixteen had won over the mile-and-a-half distance before now, with six (of the last sixteen) winning a Group One race over any distance.

There have been six winning favourites since 2003, and a further three finishing in the placings.

Thirteen of the last sixteen winners came from the top three in the betting, with one less returning at 9/2 or shorter in the betting.

Seven winners of this race since three years into the new century have won this by a three-length or more margin, so look out for a possible superstar in the line-up.

The Brit's have three chances this year, and have a great record of success in recent renewals.

Exactly half of the last sixteen winners of this race are trained by a UK-based trainer, and three winners have been ridden by man of the moment Frankie Dettori.

This year, the Italian rides Star Catcher for main boss John Gosden - who combined with Enable back in 2017.

The average winning starting price in the last 16 years is 9/2, so it may be best to side with something fairly prominent in the market.