It's the height of Summer in the Northern Hemisphere, the days are long and there is plenty of heat to warm even those parts of the world that are normally reputed to be perpetually cold. Tall lattés, chilled beer and wine coolers are the order of the day, as the public basks in the sunshine in a park, on the beach or at a roadside café. Who wants to sit at home?

Well, for followers of the international turf, there is no better place to be outdoors on the evening of Saturday, July 20^th, than the home of Irish Racing, that broad expanse in Co. Kildare known as The Curragh. The occasion is the running of the €400,000 Darley Irish Oaks (12 fur.), scheduled for 6:15 p.m. local (10:45 p.m. the same night in India). Although a mere eight fillies have been declared for the race, there is plenty of "Talent" on offer, including a runner of that name!

Surprising both her trainer, Ralph Beckett, and usual rider, Jim Crowley, by her Investec Oaks triumph, the equine Talent (by New Approach) trounced her better-fancied stable companion Secret Gesture – whom Crowley had chosen – in that event back at Epsom on the last day of May. On that occasion, Richard Hughes had guided Talent, but now Crowley has returned to take up the reins, and the combination is marginally favoured at 5 to 2.

Originally Secret Gesture was to accompany her stable companion on the journey from Andover in England but she has suffered an injury so will not be making the trip. Reminiscing about his great day at Epsom, Beckett observed: "I'd gone there certain Secret Gesture would win. I was stunned when they finished in that order. We never saw that coming. Looking back, Talent was more precocious than Secret Gesture and that's why she won - she was able to handle everything on the day."

Prince Khalid Abdullah, owner of the magnificent Juddmonte operation, parted with the hefty sum of €40,000 to ensure that his Ribblesdale Stakes victress Riposte (by Dansili) could be supplemented into the field for the Irish Oaks. Obviously connections think a lot of the lightly-raced but rapidly-improving type, who will be a first Classic runner for Lady Jane Cecil. Tom Queally will continue to do duty astride the second British challenger. The vote of confidence expressed by her team means that the filly has come in for a lot of support and is virtually joint-favourite, also at around 5 to 2.

About her ward, Lady Cecil said: "It would be wonderful for everyone at Warren Place if she could win, but just going to an Irish Oaks with a filly who has a chance is lovely. We're happy with her and she has improved since Ascot. We have liked her all year but the (Epsom) Oaks came too quick for her. You couldn't have asked for more than she did at Ascot but we do think she's come on again since then."

Incidentally, runners trained in Great Britain have annexed the last four runnings of this race through Sariska, the recently-retired Snow Fairy, Blue Bunting and Great Heavens. Aiming to deny British stables a fifth consecutive success in the event are a French contender and a quintet of home-schooled lasses.

It's strictly unusual for a runner in a Classic this late in the European season to be a maiden but circumstances have somehow conspired to ensure that the Alain Royer-Dupre trainee Chicquita (by Montjeu) arrives in Ireland from France as a non-winner. The talented bay has just three starts on her form sheet, at the second of which she suffered the ignominy of a fall. Most recently she was a fine second to Treve in the Prix de Diane-French Oaks.

Her veteran handler has wisely secured the services of the rider with the highest number of wins in this race in the shape of Johnny Murtagh, whose mantelpiece is adorned with trophies received for his five victories in the Irish Oaks during the past two decades aboard Ebadiyla, Winona, Petrushka, Peeping Fawn and Moonstone. Chicquita should start at around 7 to 1.

That brings us to the home defence: earlier in the season, Tommy Stack's Alive Alive Oh (by Duke Of Marmalade) was held in high esteem and considered to be a live classic hope, following a pair of wide-margin victories. Unfortunately she hasn't been favoured by suitable ground as the year has progressed – she prefers it soft – and has missed engagements. What's more, she is unlikely to get her ideal conditions here – although no one in India should underestimate the fickleness of European weather! Surface fears have not stopped the market from supporting her pretty strongly – about 9 to 2 is the best on offer against the Fran Berry-ridden miss.

Many were surprised when the Coolcullen-based Jim Bolger took home the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby with an outsider, but there is no denying that his runners deserve respect in any Classic in which they appear. His chosen representative here is Scintillula (by Galileo) and although by virtue of her parentage she could well win, one feels she is running to possibly earn a Group 1 "black type" placing. Kevin Manning is at the controls on the 25 to 1 chance.

Which brings us to champion trainer, Aidan O'Brien, who is triple-handed in his quest to add a fourth win in this race to his "C V", which is already studded with the names of previous winners Alexandrova, Peeping Fawn and Moonstone.

Those old enough to remember the stunned silence around the Mahalakshmi paddock, when M/s. Radha Sigtia and Shyam Ruia bid a record-breaking Rs.1,05,000 to secure the two-year-old "got-abroad" filly by Tyrone out of Elgin Marbles back in 1967, will also recall that the well-made bay was named Venus De Milo. O'Brien's best-fancied runner here (at 11 to 2) shares the name – this 2010-foaled Venus De Milo is a daughter of Duke Of Marmalade and unusually does not have stable jockey Joseph O'Brien in the saddle. In his place it is the ever-dependable Seamie Heffernan, who, having struck up a fine partnership with the unbeaten supplemental entry, will be in charge here.

Young Joseph instead pilots Just Pretending (by Giant's Causeway), last seen finishing two and a quarter lengths in arrears to Riposte in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot and there is no reason to feel that the 14 to 1 shot will be able to turn the tables on her conqueror. Magical Dream (by Galileo), to be ridden by Michael Hussey and quoted at 25 to 1, completes the field.