THERE were no foreign-trained runners in any of the first three Irish classics this season and next Saturday’s Juddmonte Irish Oaks could again be a domestic affair.

Although there are 15 British and two French fillies among the 75 horses still engaged in the race, the Curragh management have not yet received any indications from foreign trainers that they plan to send a runner.

New race sponsor Juddmonte still has Group 1 winner Quadrilateral engaged but her trainer Roger Charlton said this week that there were no definite plans for the 1000 Guineas and Coronation Stakes third.

Jessica Harrington definitely runs Pretty Polly Stakes runner-up Cayenne Pepper, and has not ruled out stepping Prix Marcel Boussac winner Albigna up in trip, following her Irish 1000 Guineas unplaced effort on fast ground. Aidan O’Brien is sure to be well-represented with Wayne Lordan likely to be on board the yard’s main hope, as Seamus Heffernan is unavailable. The Ballydoyle entry includes Epsom’s Oaks winner and runner-up Love and Ennistymon, Irish 1000 Guineas winner Peaceful, Munster Oaks winner Snow and the unexposed Laburnum.

Ger Lyons could run recent winners Even So and Lemista.

The supporting card is headed by the Group 2 Gain Railway Stakes. First run in 1851, the race has been won in recent times by subsequent Group 1 winners Mastercraftsman, Sudirman, George Washington, Holy Roman Emperor, Rock Of Gibraltar and most recently, Siskin.

Other highlights at the two-day Oaks meeting (Saturday and Sunday) include the Comer Group International Curragh Cup, in which Twilight Payment is expected to try to follow-up on his Comer Group International Vintage Crop Stakes victory.

The Paddy Power Minstrel Stakes is the likely target for Romanised who landed the race last year, while El Astronaute, who landed the Rockingham Handicap at the Curragh last year is set to make a return when lining up in the Holden Plant Rental Sapphire Stakes on Sunday.

Kildare Village has agreed to renew their support of the Ladies Derby, and the Curragh will welcome two new sponsors to the weekend with Sentinel Ireland Equine Products and Big Picture Communications adding their name to competitive handicaps.

All are invited to register on the Curragh website for a webinar next Thursday at 7.30pm which will feature Juddmonte racing manager Lord Grimthorpe and trainer Jessica Harrington.