Irish Oaks favourite Fancy Blue likely to bypass Curragh for Nassau Stakes bid

Prix de Diane heroine Fancy Blue looks set to miss Saturday's Juddmonte Irish Oaks, with trainer Donnacha O'Brien indicating a tilt at the Group 1 Qatar Nassau Stakes at Goodwood on July 30 is more likely.

The game French Oaks winner was priced up as 5-2 favourite by Ladbrokes to provide the former dual Irish champion jockey with a memorable Classic double this weekend, but the 21-year-old trainer says it is likely he will give Fancy Blue more of a gap between her races.

"She's probably going to go to Goodwood for the Nassau Stakes," he revealed on Tuesday.

"The owners have plenty of horses in different places so I'll have to speak with them and finalise plans, but I'd say she'll go to Goodwood.

Donnacha O'Brien on Fancy Blue: 'We'll have a look at both races and decide, but I'd say the likelihood is she'll go to Goodwood without being certain'Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"She's in great form but the Irish Oaks comes around a little bit quicker than the Nassau. We'll have a look at both races and decide, but I'd say the likelihood is she'll go to Goodwood without being certain."

He added of Fancy Blue's Chantilly success on July 5: "We were delighted with her in France. She's very genuine and her work tomorrow is going to be her first work back since. She's her usual self and is moving well."

Aidan O'Brien responsible for half of the 12 fillies left in the Irish Oaks

Love may not have the chance to tear the field apart again in Saturday's Classic but Aidan O'Brien is still set to be strongly represented, with the Ballydoyle trainer responsible for half of the 12 fillies left in contention after Tuesday's forfeit stage.

Investec Oaks runner-up Ennistymon remains in the reckoning to go one better at the Curragh this weekend, while Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Peaceful has also been left in.

Ennistymon: runner-up in the Investec Oaks will bid to go one better in the Irish equivalentCredit: Patrick McCann

Cayenne Pepper, who put up a promising performance to claim second in the Pretty Polly Stakes behind Magical, will aim to provide Jessica Harrington with a first victory in the Irish Oaks.

Harrington's star fillies Alpine Star and Albigna were not present in the latest field for the top-level event, which will be worth €250,000 this year – €150,000 less than 12 months ago.

Star Catcher's success last year was a ninth for overseas runners in 11 years, but that impressive record will not continue in 2020, with no fillies left from outside Ireland this time.

Ger Lyons, who memorably made his Classic breakthrough with Siskin in the Irish 2,000 Guineas last month, could be triple-handed in this weekend's highlight with recent stakes winners Lemista and Even So joined by Yaxeni.

Snow and Wayne Lordan: won the Munster Oaks Stakes earlier this monthCredit: Patrick McCann

The strong Ballydoyle challenge is cemented by the presence of Group 3 Munster Oaks scorer Snow, as well as Ribblesdale third Passion, Naas Oaks Trial second Laburnum and recent Fairyhouse maiden runner-up Prose.

Joseph O'Brien's Irish 1,000 Guineas fourth New York Girl, who finished seventh in the Irish Derby after being supplemented to take on the colts, could bid to get back on track against her own sex in the race, which is due off at 7.15pm.

Latest field for the Juddmonte Irish Oaks

1 Cayenne Pepper (Jessica Harrington)
2 Ennistymon (Aidan O'Brien)
3 Even So (Ger Lyons)
4 Fancy Blue (Donnacha O'Brien)
5 Laburnum (Aidan O'Brien)
6 Lemista (Ger Lyons)
7 New York Girl (Joseph O'Brien)
8 Passion (Aidan O'Brien)
9 Peaceful (Aidan O'Brien)
10 Prose (Aidan O'Brien)
11 Snow (Aidan O'Brien)
12 Yaxeni (Ger Lyons)

Read The Lowdown from 8.00am daily on racingpost.com and the Racing Post app for all the day's going updates, news and tips