Minnie Hauk set to go off long odds-on to complete Oaks double as Aidan O'Brien pours cold water on possibility of ace Epsom rematch

Epsom heroine Minnie Hauk could go off the shortest-priced favourite in the Juddmonte Irish Oaks this century after Aidan O'Brien revealed talented stablemates Whirl and Bedtime Story are unlikely to line up against her at the Curragh on Saturday.

Minnie Hauk is a red-hot market leader to seal her own memorable double and make it four British and Irish Classics in a row for O'Brien after wins in the Derby and Irish Derby with Lambourn last month. Victory for the daughter of Frankel would see her become the 16th filly to achieve the Epsom-Curragh double and would be an eighth in the Irish Oaks for her trainer.

The Ballydoyle trainer saddled Snowfall (2021) and Alexandrova (2005) to complete the Oaks double, and both were heavily supported favourites at 2-7 and 8-15. However, Minnie Hauk could go off shorter still with bookmakers already pricing her up at 1-3 generally after nine possibles stood their ground on Tuesday, with her two stablemates her closest rivals in bookmakers' lists despite the doubt about their participation.

Minnie Hauk, who won her maiden at Leopardstown in October, has progressed into a top-class performer at a rate of knots since stepping up to middle distances in her three-year-old campaign.

Aidan O'Brien: Minnie Hauk bids for an Oaks doubleCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

On her seasonal return, she landed the Cheshire Oaks in impressive fashion when beating Secret Of Love by a length, and was the pick of stable jockey Ryan Moore in the Oaks last month when going off a 9-2 chance.

Whirl, on whom Wayne Lordan sought to make all, was the only rival to give her a race, with the pair engaged in a titanic tussle up from the two-furlong pole at Epsom, with Minnie Hauk scoring by a neck.

Pretty Polly winner Whirl and Prix de Diane runner-up Bedtime Story remain in the Irish Oaks but are more likely to be aimed at the Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood on July 31, while the champion trainer also has Butterfly Wings, Island Hopping and Merrily in contention for Saturday's Classic. 

"The Irish Oaks has been the plan for Minnie Hauk and so far everything has gone well," said O'Brien. "Whirl probably won't run. She's in good form and could go to the Nassau. Bedtime Story probably won't run, but she's also in good shape and could go to the Nassau as well.

"If everything is okay with Minnie Hauk then Whirl and Bedtime Story probably won't run – that's the way we're thinking. Butterfly Wings, Island Hopping and Merrily are all possible runners."

Minnie Hauk would join an elite band of fillies, including Enable, Ouija Board and Sariska, should she follow up at the Curragh on Saturday, 

Minnie Hauk: form of Oaks win has been boostedCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

The Joseph O'Brien-trained Wemightakedlongway could prove the biggest danger to Minnie Hauk having finished fourth behind her in the Oaks, before filling the same spot behind Whirl in the Pretty Polly. She is a 5-1 chance to turn the tables on her Epsom conqueror.

Ralph Beckett's You Got To Me won last year's Irish Oaks, but there is no British-trained representation 12 months on, with the final two possible runners trained by Fozzy Stack and Johnny Murtagh. The former could saddle Limerick maiden winner Bay Colony, who was last seen finishing seventh in Listed company at Leopardstown, while the latter's Subsonic could take her chance despite her maiden status. 

The daughter of Lope De Vega finished a half-length second to Minnie Hauk on her debut at Leopardstown in October before returning at three with a sixth-placed effort at Naas in April.

Potential field for Saturday's Irish Oaks (3.40)

Bay Colony Fozzy Stack
Bedtime Story Aidan O'Brien
Butterfly Wings Aidan O'Brien
Island Hopping Aidan O'Brien
Merrily Aidan O'Brien
Minnie Hauk Aidan O'Brien
Subsonic Johnny Murtagh
Wemightakedlongway Joseph O'Brien
Whirl Aidan O'Brien

Juddmonte Irish Oaks (3.40 Curragh, Saturday)

Paddy Power: 1-3 Minnie Hauk, 9-2 Bedtime Story, 5 Whirl, Wemightyakedlongway, 25 Merrily, 33 Subsonic, 40 Island Hopping, 50 Butterfly Wings, 100 Bay Colony.

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