All change in Irish Oaks betting after Ryan Moore booked to ride Content over ante-post favourite Port Fairy

The market for Saturday's Juddmonte Irish Oaks changed dramatically on Thursday after Ryan Moore was booked to ride Content over ante-post favourite Port Fairy in the Curragh Classic.

Moore rode Port Fairy when she won the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot, but believes the form shown by Aidan O'Brien-trained stablemate Content when third in the Pretty Polly Stakes could work out stronger.

Port Fairy, who will be ridden by Wayne Lordan in the Irish Oaks, had been Paddy Power's 11-4 favourite with Content at 5-1, but Content was promoted to 11-4 market-leader after the Moore booking, with Port Fairy pushed out to 4-1. The Willie Mullins-trained Lope De Lilas is next best with the firm at 9-2.

In his Betfair blog, Moore wrote: "Content stayed on very strongly for me when third to Bluestocking and Emily Upjohn in the Pretty Polly over 1m2f last month and that may well be the strongest piece of form on show.

"It gives you encouragement that this Galileo filly could well stay further and make her presence felt. 

"We know Port Fairy is a guaranteed stayer, having won the Ribblesdale last time. Form-wise, there is very little between the pair, so I’d have gladly sat on either. Both have winning form on soft if the forecast rain arrives, although it is currently on the quick side."  

Lava Stream, beaten a neck by Port Fairy at Royal Ascot, featured in the 14 final declarations made on Thursday, having been supplemented by connections at a cost of €50,000 earlier in the week.

The progressive Elwick Stud-owned filly is out of Stream Song, who was the last mare bought by late owner-breeder Geoff Turnbull.

Lava Stream: "The whole team is very excited about her prospects"Credit: Edward Whitaker

Turnbull's son Nick, who will be at a wedding rather than the Curragh on Saturday, said: "The decision to supplement was made after her run in the Ribblesdale. She showed she's a top-class filly and deserves her chance in a Classic.

"It's very exciting for Elwick Stud to breed a Classic runner with a live chance. While the aim is to breed smart horses, we realise how difficult getting one to a Classic is. The whole team is very excited about her prospects on Saturday."

Lava Stream, who will be ridden by this season's Irish 1,000 Guineas-winning jockey Danny Tudhope, has made giant strides since starting the season with victory in a Doncaster handicap off a mark of 74 in May.

"After Doncaster, we pitched her straight into a Listed race at Goodwood and she won that nicely, so we decided to supplement her for the Ribblesdale," said trainer David O'Meara.

"We were uncertain whether she would stay the trip at Ascot and were surprised how easy she travelled. Her options were either France or Ireland and we thought we ran Port Fairy pretty close last time, so we've got a squeak on form." 

The ground at the Curragh was described as good, good to firm in places on Thursday morning with rain due in the build-up.

Clerk of the course Brendan Sheridan said: "We're forecast light drizzle on and off today, then we're dry tomorrow with more rain coming in tomorrow night into Saturday morning, bringing 7-8mm."

Juddmonte Irish Oaks confirmed runners and riders

Caught U Looking Colin Keane
Content Ryan Moore
Dare To Dream Alexis Pouchin
Elizabeth Jane Chris Hayes
Galileo Dame Dylan Browne McMonagle 
Hanalia Ben Coen
Lava Stream Danny Tudhope
Lope De Lilas James Doyle
Madam Celeste Gary Carroll
Port Fairy Wayne Lordan
Purple Lily Billy Lee
Rubies Are Red Declan McDonogh
War Chimes Seamie Heffernan
You Got To Me Hector Crouch

Juddmonte Irish Oaks (3.40 Curragh, Saturday)
Paddy Power: 11-4 Content, 4 Port Fairy, 9-2 Lope De Lilas, 15-2 Dare To Dream, 8 Lava Stream, 9 War Chimes, 12 Caught U Looking, 16 Hanalia, 16 Galileo Dame, 20 Purple Lily, You Got To Me, 33 Elizabeth Jane, 66 Rubies Are Red, 100 Madam Celeste

Read these next:

'She was finishing faster than anything' - why this horse can win the Irish Oaks at the Curragh on Saturday 

Derby rematch on the cards with Ambiente Friendly and City Of Troy to renew rivalry in Juddmonte International 

Racing Post Members' Club: 50% off your first three months 

Sign up to receive On The Nose, our essential daily newsletter, from the Racing Post. Your unmissable morning feed, direct to your email inbox every morning.