Some classic races are revelatory in nature in that they disclose some facet of the winner that was not known previously. For example, the 2000 Guineas reveals whether a horse is actually up to classic standard, the Epsom Derby reveals whether a horse truly stays a searching mile-and-a-half, and so on. Other classics are more in the nature of being confirmatory, in that they provide a repeat occasion for certain runners to once again display their classic prowess.

The 12 furlongs Darley Irish Oaks, whose 2014 renewal is down for decision this Saturday, July 19^th, at The Curragh in Ireland is of the latter variety. Quite often the race falls to a previous classic winner and in modern times rank outsiders have rarely prevailed. One has to go back a dozen years to find a winner that started at double digit odds.

Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum's operation surprised all and sundry in the racing world when removing the odds-on Taghrooda (by Sea The Stars) from the list of runners in the classic, preferring instead to keep her for next week's King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Had she gone over to Ireland she would have had a shot at becoming a multiple classic winner, joining the likes of Sariska, Snow Fairy and Blue Bunting who completed their own doubles in the Irish Oaks. Anyway that is all water under the bridge now, and one has to concentrate on the 11 three-year-old fillies that are headed to the starting gates at 5:45 p.m. local time (10:15 p.m. in India).

Sheikh Hamdan is in the enviable position of being able to field an able deputy in the shape of Tarfasha (by Teofilo). The locally-trained filly from the barn of Dermot Weld was nearly four lengths in arrears when following Taghrooda home at Epsom. Her stamina is not in doubt and she could well gain the day under Pat Smullen as the 5 to 2 favourite. Meanwhile, Dr. Weld – he is a qualified veterinarian – also sends out the Juddmonte hope Vote Often (by Beat Hollow). Wayne Lordan's mount is well held on form by Marvellous, as her price of 14 to 1 would suggest, but could show some improvement.

As many as 15 three-year-old fillies had accepted for the Irish Oaks, which included a large contingent of half a dozen from the Ballydoyle stables of Aidan O'Brien. Only one of this latter group has defected at the declaration stage, leaving the Cashel-based challenge standing at a mere five! Chief of these on ratings is the Etihad Airways Irish 1000 Guineas winner, Marvellous (by Galileo) who ran below expectations when sixth behind Taghrooda at Epsom but aims to make amends here. It's possible that the short gap between the two races – a mere 12 days – and the travel to England contributed to Marvellous failing to give of her best. At any rate, though she has 9 lengths to make up, a bold show would not come as a surprise, more so as Ryan Moore rides.

Actually Marvellous is not necessarily the best prospect hailing from County Tipperary – the stable's regular jockey, Joseph O'Brien, has elected to steer Tapestry (by Galileo), who is at the same 5 to 1 price as her higher-rated stablemate. Runner-up to Rizeena in the Moyglare Stakes last term, she has failed to trouble the scorer in 2014 but perhaps she is only just rounding into form – something the connections have hinted at by the riding arrangements.

Although considered lower in the Ballydoyle pecking order, Royal Ascot winner Bracelet (by Montjeu), who is exiting the Ribblesdale Stakes, has done little wrong barring her dismal run in the Qipco 1000 Guineas. That loss could well be explained by the fact that the race was contested at a trip too sharp for her. Colm O'Donoghue steers the 7 to 1 hope.

The only thing noteworthy about O'Brien's other pair, Palace (by Fastnet Rock) and Beyond Brilliance (by Holy Roman Emperor) is that the latter is to be ridden by the trainer's daughter, Anastasia O'Brien. As far as one can tell, this will be the first time ever in the history of the sport that a brother and sister pair of riders will square off against each other in a classic.

Despite the absence of Taghrooda, the British challenge is significant. A pair of fairly highly-rated fillies make the journey across the Irish Sea – Volume (by Mount Nelson) from the yard of Luca Cumani will be accompanied by Lustrous (by Champs Elysees), who is handled by Richard Hannon, Jr. In fact, Volume is the second choice in the betting at 4 to 1 – she was, after all, third in the corresponding event at Epsom under Richard Hughes. As that rider is engaged at Newbury on the same afternoon, local ace Kevin Manning has been drafted for the job. It is interesting to note that this progressive filly has the uncommon distinction of having shown improvement at every start of her fledgling 6-race career, so another step-up could well see her land the prize.