Irish Oaks Betting
Many of the same top thoroughbred fillies who run in the English Oaks at Epsom also compete in the Irish Oaks, and top trainers such as Aidan O’Brien, John Oxx, James Bolger, Sir Michael Stoute and Dermot Weld may set their sights on securing a prestigious English/Irish Oaks double. So for Irish Oaks betting, it pays to track the performance of favoured horses who come out of the Oaks at Epsom with their reputations unscathed, and to be on the look out for horses who may have underperformed at Epsom.
As well as watching Irish Oaks odds leading up to the race, factors to consider on the day you place your Irish Oaks bets include
- the current going at the Curragh (a filly who prefers hard ground may have a disadvantage if the going is soft)
- familiarity with the track at the Curragh (for example, fillies from stables based in the Curragh area – like Dermot Weld’s stables – may have an advantage)
- the look of the horses you’re thinking of backing in the parade ring (go for relaxed but alert, and reconsider if your filly is sweating profusely)
Top Trainers and Jockeys
Aidan O’Brien has become the top trainer to back in just about all of the top group 1 flat races, in England and in Ireland. Horses he trained have won the last two runnings of the Irish Oaks – and his 2006 winner, Alexandrova, performed the feat of winning all three Oaks races (at Epsom, at the Curragh and then in Yorkshire). O’Brien has made several entries for the 2008 Irish Oaks, and it’s certain that fillies from his stables will be among the favourites in Irish Oaks betting.
Other top-notch trainers, all of whom can boast two or more Irish Oaks wins and a remarkable number of wins in other group 1 races, include John M. Oxx, Dermot Weld, Sir Michael Stoute (the Irish Oaks record holder, with five wins) and Jim Bolger.
Johnny Murtagh counts as the jockey with the most Irish Oaks wins – he rode Peeping Fawn in 2007, as well as the race winners in 1997, 1998 and 2000. Other jockeys who currently rank highest in flat racing include Pat Smullen, Kevin Manning (winner with Margarula in 2002), DP McDonogh, FM Berry and JA Heffernan.
Start considering your favourites for 2008 Irish Oaks betting.
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