Snowfall Attempts English-Irish Oaks Double

Snowfall  overcame wet conditions at Epsom when bolting up in the Cazoo Oaks (G1) but she is being backed to prove herself as good, if not better, on quicker ground in the Juddmonte Irish Oaks (G1) equivalent by trainer Aidan O'Brien.

After being described as "special" by O'Brien following her record-breaking 16-length triumph last time, Snowfall will bid to become the 15th filly to complete the Oaks double at the Curragh on Saturday.

She is as short as 3-10 with some bookmakers to follow up, which is shorter than Enable  (2-5), Alexandrova  (8-15), and Ouija Board  (4-7) were sent off for their respective successes in the Irish Oaks.

Frankie Dettori partnered Snowfall at Epsom—and described their victory as his easiest Classic win—but Ryan Moore will take the ride.

O'Brien said: "We always thought she would prefer good ground, and we were worried going to Epsom wondering whether the ground would be too soft. We've always viewed her as a nice-ground filly.

"We were delighted with her at Epsom. She was very good on her first run of the season but it was an extra two furlongs at Epsom. We thought she'd stay the trip but you can never be sure they will. It was also different ground so, everything in consideration, we were delighted by her performance. Everything has gone very well since."

In an exclusively Irish-trained field, half of the runners represent Ballydoyle, with Snowfall joined by recent Naas winner Willow , Oaks third Divinely , and Roscommon maiden winner La Joconde .

Discussing his challengers, O'Brien, who bids to equal Sir Michael Stoute's record six Irish Oaks wins, added: "Willow is a big filly and is really progressing. We were delighted with her at Naas. Seamus (Heffernan) rode her that day and he will take the ride again.

"Divinely was third at Epsom and ran well at Royal Ascot considering her saddle just went back when she left the stalls. That was a big effort. La Joconde is a filly we've always liked and we always felt she wanted nice ground. It was nice for her to win at Roscommon."

O'Brien's sons Donnacha and Joseph send out Nicest  and Mariesque, meaning the family are responsible for three-quarters of the field.

"She's in great form but it looks like we'll all be running for second if Snowfall can reproduce her Oaks performance. Conditions will suit and if she's in the first three it would be great," said Donnacha O'Brien of Nicest.

The Ger Lyons-trained Party House , sixth in the Naas contest behind Willow despite being sent off shorter in the betting at 9-2, and the Fozzy Stack-trained Ahandfulofsummers  complete the line-up.