4.35 Juddmonte Irish Oaks (Group 1) 1m 4f

Amelia Earhart: Talented but slightly quirky filly had been racing in the most unusual headgear combination of a hood and blinkers, though now Aidan O’Brien has opted to try just the cheekpieces. Sent off 7/4 favourite for the Oaks at Epsom when disappointing (beaten 18 and a half lengths) and needs to bounce back to something more like she showed when landing the Cheshire Oaks. Unproven at Group 1 level but obviously in top hands.

Beautify: Could have had a clearer run when sixth of eight in the Pretty Polly Stakes last time, but hasn’t fully caught fire this season and her stamina is an unknown at this trip. Group 2 winner over six furlongs at this venue as a two-year-old, as well as finishing second to Precise in the Group 1 Moyglare Stakes over seven furlongs.

Cameo: Had looked to be going the right way before a disappointing third as 5/4 favourite behind today’s rival Rebel Moon in a Naas Group 3. Lingfield Oaks Trial winner (also fifth in the Oaks at Epsom) needs a career-best but did look capable of being placed in something like this earlier in the season.

Composing: Last year’s Silver Flash and Debutante Stakes winner hasn’t really lived up to Group 1 expectations (sent off evens favourite for the Moyglare last autumn). Not a bad effort when fifth in the Ribblesdale in first-time blinkers (retained now) but much more required.

Earth Shot: Snapped up by major owners Wathnan Racing ahead of the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot and proved an excellent purchase when getting up close home to beat Johanna Walsh in that Group 2. Had previously emerged with plenty of credit from finishing second behind another of today’s rivals, Inis Mor, in the Listed Height Of Fashion Stakes at Goodwood when rallying to be beaten a head over what was possibly an inadequate trip. Big player.

Inis Mor: Listed winner two starts ago (at the expense of Earth Shot) emerged from her latest effort with her reputation enhanced. Beaten two and a quarter lengths in third then behind Diamond Necklace in the Prix de Diane but was the only filly who raced up with the pace to play any sort of part in the closing stages; possibly in the firing line a little earlier than ideal. Every chance this daughter of Galiway could be even better for trying this longer trip for the first time - her dam is by Deep Impact and won over a mile and seven furlongs. Supplemented for the race at a cost of €50,000 this week.

Johanna Walsh: Built on two solid runs to win a Leopardstown maiden over 10 furlongs in May, and very nearly pinched the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot when last seen. Lost little in defeat when a head behind Earth Shot there. Only rated 92 heading into the Royal Meeting but now 108. That is still 11lb shy of her stablemate Thundering On’s rating, though this Sea The Stars filly is open to progress and should handle conditions fine.

Rebel Moon: Gave her connections the confidence to supplement her for this when winning a Group 3 sponsored by her owners at Naas three and a half weeks ago; now two from two and an exciting daughter of Lope De Vega (cost 500,000gns as a yearling). Likely a positive that Joey Sheridan rides her ahead of Royal Ascot runner-up Johanna Walsh from the same stable, in terms of their pecking order. Difficult to say where her ceiling is, albeit she must find progression to play a starring role.

Sparan Nua: Progressive, unbeaten filly has been supplemented for this classic and has the distinction of having beaten older fillies in Group 3 company, with her win in the Munster Oaks a fine performance last time. Into deeper waters now but entitled to have a crack at this. Proven stayer respected even if improvement is required.

Sugar Island: Beautifully-bred Dubawi filly ran a belter when third in the Oaks at Epsom when tasked with setting the pace. Now has first-time cheekpieces added. Finished nine and three quarter lengths behind Thundering On last time.

Thundering On: Won the Oaks at Epsom in pretty spectacular fashion and likely would be coming here as the heavy odds-on favourite but for defeat when tried over two furlongs shorter on much quicker ground in the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes here three weeks ago. Every chance the ground is quicker than she wants again now, but she looked so far clear of other three-year-old fillies in this division at Epsom, and the only ones to beat her in the Pretty Polly were all older rivals. With slightly more positive tactics, she might be good enough to overcome imperfect ground conditions.

Conclusion

While conditions mightn’t be absolutely ideal, the ability to back a filly officially rated at least 9lb superior to her rivals at odds of around 5/2 makes too much appeal to pass up. Thundering On is better on slower ground but she was still only beaten two and a half lengths behind older rivals over an inadequate trip last time and connections surely will have learned plenty about her from there. In Group 1 races, backing the proven Group 1 horses is often the soundest approach to take, and Joseph O’Brien’s star three-year-old brings by far the highest class to the table.

If an extra run since Epsom ends up having a negative impact on the selection, Inis Mor might be the one to capitalise. Her trainer, David Menuisier, doesn’t tend to have many runners in Ireland but has finished second in an Irish Derby with Sunway and there’s a big chance his candidate for this year’s Irish Oaks will thrive for trying this longer trip. Earth Shot has solid credentials for William Haggas, who is operating at an impressive 25% strike rate in Ireland through the past five seasons, while Sparan Nua and Rebel Moon are blank canvases at this level with the scope to improve.