16:35 Curragh (IRE) 18 Jul 2026
Juddmonte Irish Oaks
Fillies' Group 1 | Class 1 | 3YO only
Winner €289,999 - 10 ran
prominent early, soon tracked leaders, 5th halfway, headway travelling well early straight and led 2f out, soon pushed along and asserted, reminder and 3 lengths advantage 1f out, kept on well, readily
held up towards rear, took keen hold, 8th halfway, going okay when not clear run 2f out, soon switched to outer and headway, ridden in 3rd over 1f out, 2nd early final furlong, no impression on winner, kept on one pace
towards rear and slow to gather stride, soon a little keen, 9th halfway, going okay when not clear run over 2f out, pushed along in 6th when switched to outer over 1f out, ridden in 4th and no impression early final furlong, kept on same pace, 3rd close home
held up in rear, headway on outer travelling well over 2f out, 3rd 2f out, pushed along in 2nd when edged right 1 1/2f out, ridden and no impression when went right again over 1f out, 3rd early final furlong, kept on one pace, no extra in 4th close home
mid-division, a little keen, 7th halfway, pushed along and headway over 2f out, 3rd when carried right 1 1/2f out, 4th and no impression when carried right again over 1f out, no extra
mid-division on inner, 6th halfway, pushed along and some headway over 2f out, ridden in 5th when carried right 1 1/2f out, no impression when carried right again and hampered on rail over 1f out, no extra
tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, pushed along 3f out and soon 2nd, led 2 1/2f out, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened quickly
tracked leaders on inner, 4th halfway, pushed along 3f out, ridden and no impression 2f out, weakened
disputed, headed after 2f and tracked leader, pushed along and led 3f out, headed 2 1/2f out, ridden in 3rd 2f out, weakened quickly
disputed, led after 2f, pushed along approaching straight, headed 3f out, weakened quickly
Betting returns
| Type | Winnings |
|---|---|
| CSF | €22.25 (7, 6) |
| Tricast | €144.98 (7, 6, 9) |
| Win | €4.95 (7) |
| Place | €1.50 (7), €2.40 (6), €2.85 (9) |
| Swinger | €5.75 (6, 7), €10.55 (6, 9), €8.40 (7, 9) |
| Exacta | €34.90 (7, 6) |
| Trifecta | €190.40 (7, 6, 9) |
Expert Analysis
An unusual Irish classic as the Ballydoyle challenge was weak, four of their five fillies sent off big prices, though the powerful yard still controlled the pace and shape of the race. Johanna Walsh was always well-positioned tracking the pace, though won with plenty in hand, the three to chase her home all shaping with promise in coming from off the pace.
JOHANNA WALSH has improved rapidly this season, taking leaps forward from run to run, and won this race as impressively as her stablemate, and late absentee here, Thundering On had done at Epsom. She will reportedly have a break now after a busy period, though seems particularly well-suited by a fast surface.
INIS MOR had stamina to prove as a strong traveller stepping up in trip but got home well here and shaped a bit better than the form having had to wait for her run.
SPARAN NUA only made her debut in May but has come a long way since, shaping second best under hold-up tactics that had not been used before. She raced in last place and was going well down the inner early the straight but could not get a run, finishing strongly when finally getting in the clear after the winner had flown. She is well up to this level.
REBEL MOON was the least experienced filly in the field but ran a race full of promise, making a big move from the rear on the outer turning in before travelling as well as any to the two-furlong point. It looked as if the trip stretched her but is early days still with her and she also showed signs of inexperience in the finish.
AMELIA EARHART had disappointed when favourite for the Oaks and ran better here with the cheekpieces replacing the hood and blinkers without suggesting she is up to this level. Her yard had a rare quiet classic weekend at the Curragh, drawing a blank from 21 runners.
EARTH SHOT had beaten the winner in the Ribblesdale but was not in the same form here, the hampering she encountered late only adding to the distance she was beaten.
BEAUTIFY was stretched by this trip.
CAMEO has not matched her Lingfield form in three runs since.
COMPOSING was part of the pace before weakening in the straight.
SUGAR ISLAND made the running before weakening in the straight.
Video Highlights
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Replay: 16:35 Curragh 18th Jul 2026
Previous winners
| Year | Going | Ran | Winner | Draw | Age | Weight | OR | Form | Last run | Trainer (Distance) | Jockey | SP | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Good | 7 | Minnie Hauk | 1 | 3 | 9 2 | - | 21-11 | 43 days | A P O'Brien (73 miles) | Ryan Moore | 2/ 11 | 2:33.62 |
| 2024 | Good | 14 | You Got To Me | 2 | 3 | 9 2 | - | 15-144 | 30 days | R M Beckett | Hector Crouch | 15/ 2 | 2:32.61 |
| 2023 | Soft | 8 | Savethelastdance | 5 | 3 | 9 2 | - | 5-112 | 50 days | A P O'Brien (73 miles) | Ryan Moore | 10/ 11 | 2:43.11 |
| 2022 | Good | 7 | Magical Lagoon | 8 | 3 | 9 2 | - | 417-21 | 30 days | Mrs J Harrington (3 miles) | Shane Foley | 5/ 4 | 2:34.20 |
| 2021 | Good | 8 | Snowfall | 1 | 3 | 9 2 | - | 4598-11 | 43 days | A P O'Brien (73 miles) | Ryan Moore | 2/ 7 | 2:34.36 |
| 2020 | Yielding | 8 | Even So | 2 | 3 | 9 2 | - | 31-351 | 14 days | G M Lyons (32 miles) | Colin Keane | 10/ 1 | 2:39.54 |
| 2019 | Good | 8 | Star Catcher | 3 | 3 | 9 0 | - | 6-131 | 30 days | J & T Gosden | Frankie Dettori | 7/ 2 | 2:34.49 |
| 2018 | Good to Firm | 7 | Sea of Class | 7 | 3 | 9 0 | - | 211 | 37 days | W J Haggas | James Doyle | 11/ 4 | 2:32.54 |
| 2017 | Good to Firm | 10 | Enable | 6 | 3 | 9 0 | - | 1-311 | 43 days | J & T Gosden | Frankie Dettori | 2/ 5 | 2:32.13 |
| 2016 | Good | 11 | Seventh Heaven | 9 | 3 | 9 0 | - | 74-116 | 43 days | A P O'Brien (73 miles) | Seamie Heffernan | 14/ 1 | 2:34.53 |
| 2015 | Good | 9 | Covert Love | 8 | 3 | 9 0 | - | 5-111 | 22 days | H Palmer | P J Smullen | 7/ 1 | 2:30.38 |
| 2014 | Good to Firm | 10 | Bracelet | 3 | 3 | 9 0 | - | 81-101 | 30 days | A P O'Brien (73 miles) | Colm O'Donoghue | 10/ 1 | 2:33.68 |
| 2013 | Good to Firm | 7 | Chicquita | 1 | 3 | 9 0 | - | 3-F2 | 34 days | A De Royer Dupre | Johnny Murtagh | 9/ 2 | 2:35.01 |
| 2012 | Soft | 7 | Great Heavens | 1 | 3 | 9 0 | - | 5-111 | 15 days | J & T Gosden | William Buick | 5/ 4 | 2:42.92 |
| 2011 | Yielding | 9 | Blue Bunting | 3 | 3 | 9 0 | - | 211-14 | 44 days | M Al Zarooni | Frankie Dettori | 5/ 2 | 2:42.97 |
| 2010 | Good | 15 | Snow Fairy | 9 | 3 | 9 0 | - | 2439-11 | 44 days | E A L Dunlop | Ryan Moore | 7/ 2 | 2:34.87 |
| 2009 | Heavy | 10 | Sariska | 3 | 3 | 9 0 | - | 1-411 | 37 days | M L W Bell | Jamie Spencer | EVENS | 2:45.84 |
| 2008 | Good to Soft | 14 | Moonstone | 10 | 3 | 9 0 | - | 242 | 37 days | A P O'Brien (73 miles) | Johnny Murtagh | 2/ 1 | 2:34.37 |
| 2007 | Heavy | 12 | Peeping Fawn | 4 | 3 | 9 0 | - | 321321 | 15 days | A P O'Brien (73 miles) | Johnny Murtagh | 3/ 1 | 2:39.12 |
| 2006 | Good to Firm | 6 | Alexandrova | 2 | 3 | 9 0 | - | 6312-21 | 44 days | A P O'Brien (73 miles) | Kieren Fallon | 8/ 15 | 2:29.60 |
