Johanna Walsh steps up to deliver effortless Irish Oaks success
Thundering On may have been absent but Joseph O'Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle combined to make it an Epsom and Irish Oaks double with able deputy Johanna Walsh proving a class apart at the Curragh.
Saturday 18 July 2026 17:34, UK
Johanna Walsh proved a more than able deputy for her stablemate Thundering On as she ran out a facile winner of the Juddmonte Irish Oaks.
Thundering On blew her rivals away in the Oaks at Epsom last month and while she had since proved no match for top-class older mare Estrange in the Pretty Polly Stakes, she was well fancied to complete a Classic double on home soil, only to be declared a non-runner on Saturday morning.
Despite her absence, Joseph O'Brien still fired a twin assault in his bid for an Oaks double of his own, with Johanna Walsh - runner-up to the reopposing Earth Shot in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot last month - joined by the unbeaten Rebel Moon.
Johanna Walsh was a well backed 7-2 shot in the hands of Dylan Browne McMonagle and after tracking the Ballydoyle pacemakers into the home straight, she opened up from two furlongs down to leave the chasing pack trailing in her wake, with four lengths the winning margin.
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David Menuisier's French Oaks third Inis Mor was best of the rest in second ahead of Sparan Nua in third and Rebel Moon in fourth.
O'Brien said: "It was a huge performance from the filly and I thought Dylan gave her a fantastic ride because he controlled the whole race and had a very willing partner. He felt like he'd be able to do that from a mid-pack position and he really did.
"She came on the bridle between the three and the two (furlong markers). We knew that she'd love the fast ground and we felt like she was in good shape coming here.
"It's really special to win a Classic here in Ireland. This is what we are in the game for and this is why we do what we do.
"We'll enjoy today. She's had a busy first part of the season. We'll probably give her a little freshen up now and focus on an autumn campaign."
Of Thundering On, the trainer added: "She'll be back in the autumn. She's an exciting filly, it's a pity we didn't get to see her here today but we'll have her back for the autumn."
McMonagle said: "That was unreal. She's a filly with a lot of gears and when I pushed the button she put the race to bed in a couple of strides, so it wasn't a bad substitute!
"I didn't think there was a whole lot between this filly and Rebel Moon. This one has more experience and I think Rebel Moon is going to be open to more improvement towards the backend of the year, but this one was cherry-ripe for the day and she was unbelievable. It was push button stuff so a big well done to everyone.
"We had three good fillies in the race and every one had their chance of winning. Thundering On is obviously a little bit special, it's hard to know what she would have done the way this one performed, but thankfully the way it worked out it was all in my favour."
Celeron powers to Railway Stakes success
Celeron bounced back from Royal Ascot disappointment with a runaway victory in the GAIN Railway Stakes at the Curragh.
Michael O'Callaghan's juvenile had made a big impression on his racecourse debut at this venue in early June and as a result connections travelled to the Royal meeting with hopes ahead of his tilt at the Windsor Castle Stakes.
Unfortunately a slow start put him on the back foot from the start, however, and he never threatened to land a telling blow, but he showed his true colours back on home soil.
A 7-2 shot in the hands of Oisin Murphy, Celeron quickened up to take over the lead racing inside the last of six furlongs and passed the post with three lengths in hand over Tribeca. Aidan O'Brien's 11-10 favourite Confucius was only third.
O'Callaghan said: "Any day you can get Oisin is a bonus - he gave him a great ride.
"I was a little bit worried about the trip today - six furlongs looks like his minimum now. He won his maiden over six furlongs but when this horse steps up to seven furlongs or even a mile, we'll see the best of him.
"Oisin said today it was only because of his class he got through. He found the pace mid-race a little bit hot, but he said the horse has plenty of class and took plenty of pulling up.
"His next race will be over seven furlongs and he could be a horse to go a mile next May."
Cover Up battles gamely to land Sapphire Stakes
Cover Up finished with a flourish to lead home a British one-two-three-four in the Tulfarris Hotel And Golf Resort Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh.
Simon and Ed Crisford's winner struck gold twice in Dubai during the winter and was last seen finishing in midfield in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot.
A 7-1 shot dropping down to Group Two level in Ireland, the six-year-old looked flat out at the halfway stage under James Doyle, but with the near side rail to help he kept himself in the fight and was doing his best work at the finish as he got up to score by three-quarters of a length.
Dave Loughnane's Partisan Hero was second ahead of Robert Cowell's Jakajaro in third and the George Boughey-trained 5-2 favourite Rosy Affair in fourth.
Ed Crisford said: "He's a really wonderful horse to have in the stable, a high-quality sprinter who did well in Dubai.
"Ascot was the aim but he just got no run really, running into the back of horses.
"We thought this track would suit him well. I was a little bit worried because there was no rain and we always thought he liked to get his toe in a bit, but he handled it super and finished really well."
Cover Up will now return to Group One company, with an appearance at York next month on the agenda.
Crisford added: "We'll run in the Nunthorpe and maybe come back here for the Flying Five."
