THERE is only one topic in racing at the moment and that is what’s going on in England with the whips.

A total of 17 high-class horses are still engaged in the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.

THE Irish Oaks has historically been a great pointer to finding the winner of the Yorkshire Oaks but, with the first four from the Curragh all taking their places in today’s feature, assessing the merit of that race relative to today’s contest might be secondary to establishing the best filly from that quartet.

BANIMPIRE, beaten a short head by Blue Bunting in the Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh on Sunday, could join the star line-up for the Markel Insurance Nassau Stakes at Goodwood on July 30.

Frankie Dettori snatched a last-gasp victory on Blue Bunting in the Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh.

THE weight of money for Wonder Of Wonders in tomorrow’s Darley Irish Oaks suggests the filly is poised to reverse Investec Oaks form with Dancing Rain and if that is the case it will bring trainer Aidan O’Brien one step closer to a second Irish Classic clean sweep.

William Haggas is keen to see if Dancing Rain can follow up her victory in the Oaks at Epsom with success in the Darley-sponsored Irish equivalent at the Curragh on Sunday.

TREASURE BEACH and Reliable Man, respective winners of the Irish and French Derby, are to clash in the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp tomorrow evening.

DANCING Rain will bid to join quite an elite bunch of ladies when she lines up for the Irish Oaks at the Curragh next weekend.

AFTER a week-long saga over their intended Derby rides, it was finally down to the action at Epsom as Johnny Murtagh's supreme effort on Dancing Rain forced Kieren Fallon and Wonder Of Wonders to settle for second in yesterday's Investec Oaks.