Tapestry could be tailor-made for Irish Oaks

Solving this afternoon’s Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh would have been so easy had the Epsom heroine, Taghrooda, as was widely anticipated, met the engagement.

But she was a shock absentee on Thursday morning, leaving us with an unexpected puzzle. Epsom Oaks form, of course, is liberally represented with Tarfasha (second), Volume (third), Marvellous (sixth) and Palace (seventh) renewing rivalry.

Marvellous and Palace have too much ground to make up to be put forward as likely winners and there is virtually nothing between Tarfasha and Volume, who were simply outclassed by Taghrooda.