Sparan Nua

Jim Bolger is more than happy to roll the dice with Sparan Nua (Dawn Approach) in his quest for a third success in the Juddmonte Irish Oaks at the Curragh on Saturday. Give Thanks was the veteran trainer's first winner of the Classic in 1983, with Margarula then doubling his tally when successful in 2002. Bolger has not registered a Group 1 triumph since Poetic Flare won the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2021, but it would be folly to underestimate Sparan Nua when she tries to...

William Haggas is excited to give Royal Ascot heroine Earth Shot (Time Test) a shot at Classic glory in the Juddmonte Irish Oaks at the Curragh on Saturday. The G2 Ribblesdale Stakes winner is one of 11 fillies in contention for the Group 1 contest following Tuesday's confirmation stage. While Haggas would have preferred to see more rain in the build-up, he is confident that the Wathnan Racing-owned runner deserves her place in the field. "Everything seems in order with her. She seems very well and I'm looking forward to...