Magic Wand heads betting for 2018 Irish Oaks after declarations

Coral preview the Classic

Saturday’s Irish Oaks at the Curragh will be headed by Magic Wand and Sea Of Class after the pair were confirmed among the seven declared runners on Thursday.

Trainer Aidan O’Brien holds almost half the entries for the 1m 4f renewal, as the Irishman bids to join Sir Michael Stoute as the joint-most successful trainer of the race.

Main contenders

Magic Wand looks set to go off as favourite after her 4l triumph in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot last month. The Galileo daughter has had a number of Saturday’s competitors behind her before now and is 11/8 to come out on top in her native Ireland.    

She’ll face competition from the highly-progressive William Haggas-runner, Sea Of Class. The three-year-old daughter of Sea The Stars has clocked up back-to-back wins in Listed company and looks more than ready to take on a competitive Group 1.

The filly shaped last time out at Newbury as if she’d enjoy the extra 2f on offer here and has been steadily backed into 15/8 second-favourite throughout the week.

Forever Together rounds out what the Coral traders consider the main contenders at 7/2. O’Brien’s second hope in the race was an impressive winner of the Investec Oaks at Epsom in June. Her subsequent run at the Curragh wasn’t quite as taking, which could be a worry back at the same venue.

Rest of the field

Bye Bye Baby was beaten comfortably in both the Oaks at Epsom and the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh. She’s considered the best of the rest at 14/1. Mary Tudor boasts similarly unappetising form at 20/1, while Romiyna needs to improve off her disappointing sixth-place finish in the Oaks Trial. Tissiak is the outsider of the field at 40/1.