Ryan Moore shares his thoughts on his Irish Oaks mount Content - and his four other rides at The Curragh on Saturday, including Snapdragon and Ides of March

Ryan Moore is gearing up to ride Content rather than antepost favourite Port Fairy in the Irish Oaks on Saturday afternoon. 

The jockey's Aidan O'Brien-trained mount is one of five rides that Moore has at the Curragh, including Snapdragon, and Believing. 

Here, Betfair ambassador Moore runs the rule over the horses for Saturday's raceday.  

13.30 Curragh

Ides Of March

We had seven in here, five of which were newcomers, but we rely on the raced Ides Of March and debutant The Lion In Winter. I didn’t ride the former when he finished fourth on his debut here over 6f last month but he clearly shaped with promise and his pedigree suggests the step up to 7f will suit. And you’d hope he would have improved for the experience of his first start. The Lion In Winter has pleased us at home and takes his chance, and 7f is a good starting point for a horse with plenty of stamina in his pedigree.

14.00 Curragh

Snapdragon

Snapdragon has run to a similar level of form in his three starts to date. A mark of 83 wouldn’t be generous on those efforts but of course this No Nay Never colt has a good pedigree, so hopefully there is improvement in there.

15.05 Curragh

Believing

Valiant Force obviously has to be respected on his juvenile form but Believing brings the best recent form to the table in this Group 2. I haven’t ridden her before but her brace of Group 1 efforts at Royal Ascot speak for themselves in this grade.

15.40 Curragh

Content

Content stayed on very strongly for me when third to Bluestocking and Emily Upjohn in the Pretty Polly over 1m2f here last month – that may well be the strongest piece of form on show here - and that gives you encouragement that this Galileo filly could well stay further and make her presence felt here. 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, though it is currently on the quick side. Of the opposition, a few of these have to be respected, possibly most of all Willie Mullins’ unexposed, impressive Leopardstown maiden winner Lope De Lilas. There is no clear form stand-out going into the race though, so this Classic is up for grabs. 

I should say our Rubies Are Red, now visored, is not out of this on her early-season form, but she clearly has to step up a fair bit on recent showings.

16.15 Curragh

Tower Of London

We had five possibles for this, including four 3yos, and we run three. But this looks a good spot for Tower Of London to get back on track after a disappointing run in the Yorkshire Cup. Whatever the reason for that below-par effort, he has a very strong form chance here on his earlier Meydan win, a race in which he looked a Group 1 horse in waiting. Vauban is the obvious danger.