The field for the Darley Irish Oaks has taken shape without the ante-post favourite, Diamondsandrubies who was pulled out by her trainer, Aidan O’Brien, most likely with a view to campaigning her at the Goodwood meeting in England at the end of this month. That has reduced by one the number of Ballydoyle challengers in the race for the classic, which goes off at 5:50 p.m. local on Saturday, July 18^th, at the Curragh, Ireland, with 10 acceptors.

The absence of  Diamondsandrubies still leaves four runners declared that happen to hail from the famed establishment near the village of Rosegreen, Cashel, Co. Tipperary, which is on the threshold of a rare milestone – 100 English or Irish classic winners. Starting in 1951, the late Vincent O'Brien sent out 43 classic winners from Ballydoyle's stables, including such hallowed names as Nijinsky, Sir Ivor and The Minstrel. His namesake – though unrelated – has already provided 56 wearers of the coveted sash that every classic winner earns the right to be adorned with. In fact, Aidan O'Brien, who took over the reins of Ballydoyle in 1996, can lay claim to a scroll of honour that contains such stars as Galileo, High Chaparral, Camelot, Australia – the list goes on and on!

This year alone, Gleneagles (by Galileo) and Qualify (by Fastnet Rock) have added to the tally and the latter is an acceptor for the Darley Irish Oaks as well, with Colm O'Donoghue up, but recent rain has threatened those plans. Her trainer said a short while ago: "Because of the rain they had yesterday and last night Qualify has to be considered a very unlikely runner in the Irish Oaks. She is a very ground dependent filly."

No matter – even if she defects, O'Brien still has the lightly-raced unbeaten Words (by Dansili), with his son Joseph aboard, Together Forever (by Galileo), with Seamie Heffernan in charge and Kissed By Angels (by Galileo) with Michael Hussey to bat for him. They are on offer at 10 to 3, 11 to 1 and 16 to 1 respectively. As Words has already spoken of her ability over the trip – she won a 12 furlongs Group 3 at Cork last month – she could well be the one to score the single that would give Ballydoyle its century. Incidentally, her dam Moonstone had won this event under an inspired ride by Johnny Murtagh in 2008, so it could well be a case of history repeating itself.

Even if all the Aidan O'Brien runners fail, the Coolmore partners could still take home the prize through the winner of Royal Ascot's Ribblesdale Stakes, Curvy (by Galileo), who is unbeaten in four starts this term and who has proven staying ability. Supplemented at a cost of €40,000, the talented miss from the  stables of David Wachman has every chance and is the public choice at 9 to 4. With Ryan Moore – who piloted her last time out – sidelined through a neck injury, regular rider Wayne Lordan resumes his association with the filly.

Her trainer was more cautious when pointing out that Curvy still needed to find some improvement. He said: "Curvy seems well and we are very happy with her so we decided to take our chance in this. She is a very straightforward filly who we have had no problems with. She has been improving from run to run and she will need to step up again if she is to win as she is going from Group Two to Group One level," adding "I am not worried about the ground for her as she has run on fast ground, good ground and slow ground, so she seems to handle anything."

At 7 to 1 is the British-trained Covert Love (by Azamour), who has had things her own way in three starts so far this year. However as she is moving up significantly in class, her task seems not so easy as her record suggests. The improving filly, who spends her days at the Kremlin Cottage Stables in Newmarket, has a new rider in the shape of Irish ace Pat Smullen. Her schooler clearly likes her chances – as he said: "She's done absolutely nothing wrong this year apart from blow the start in her maiden when the poor thing had to come from last of 14 and weave her way through to win going well. She's just improved and improved since then."

An Irish-trained runner who might appreciate the conditions is 10 to 1 Jack Naylor (by Champs Elysees). Although well-beaten at Epsom, she seemed not to like the uneven track there. Her trainer, Jessica Harrington, said as much: "The track at the Curragh will suit her better and she has won well there before, while we are hoping for a little bit of rain." The rain has since materialized since then and that could well see her giving a better account of herself. Fran Berry will steer her on this occasion as well.

Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Pleascach misses the race but her stablemate Stellar Glow (by Sea The Stars) will endeavour to weave the Jim Bolger magic at 40 to 1 with Kevin Manning in the saddle. Was it not just last week that Angel Dust scored in a classic at over 50 to 1!

Two more British-trained runners complete the line-up – the 12 to 1 Speedy Boarding (by Shamardal) and the 14 to 1 Gretchen (by Galileo). Trainer of the former, James Fanshawe, hopes his ward will step up from Listed company with the same ease with which she graduated from a maiden victory earlier in the season. The latter is from John Gosden's yard and it hardly needs reiteration that any runner in a classic from that barn, even one with just two starts under her belt, must be respected. More so in this year when he has already shown his stable's muscle with Golden Horn and Jack Hobbs…..