Joseph O’Brien is preparing to return his Oaks heroine Thundering On to action in the Moyglare “Jewels” Blandford Stakes on day two of the Irish Champions Festival.

The Owning Hill handler will be well represented across the two days, but chief among his hopes will be his Epsom Classic winner who was last seen finishing fourth when taking on her elders over the Blandford Stakes course and distance in the Pretty Polly Stakes.

Freshened up since a late absentee from the Irish Oaks in July, she reappears in a race that is down in grade on paper but one her handler feels will offer a stern examination.

“She’s had a little mid-season break with a view to focusing on an autumn campaign and this is a lovely starting point for her,” said O’Brien.

“She’s a high-class filly and there’s the potential for a little bit of rain next week that wouldn’t do her chances any harm. She has won on a quicker surface, but I think she is most effective on easier ground like she got at Epsom.

“The Blandford is a Group 2, but it looks like the race could end up being a Group 1 (in quality) and she looks like a live contender.”

On the same afternoon O’Brien has a host of entries for the Comer Group International Irish St Leger, but it could be the versatile Trustyourinstinct that is tasked with downing his father Aidan’s leading stayer Scandinavia in a race the younger O’Brien won with Al Riffa 12 months ago.

O’Brien said: “I think Trustyourinstinct will be the main one for us in the Irish Leger, he loves the Curragh and is coming off the back of a career best (when winning the Curragh Cup).

“Of course Scandinavia will be very hard to beat, but he’s a good horse, Trustyourinstinct, and he’s very ground versatile.

“He’s been around for a long time and keeps getting better and I suppose we’re learning about him too and have been able to change tactics and do different things as he’s got older. He just keeps getting better and long may that last.”