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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Greg Wood

Talking Horses: Warm Heart can lift Irish Oaks for O’Brien and Heffernan

Warm Heart pictured winning the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Warm Heart pictured winning the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot. Photograph: Ian Headington/racingfotos.com/Shutterstock

Seamie Heffernan has won 35 races at the highest level for Aidan O’Brien over the past 23 years and only seven of those winners were favourites, which is an indication of his perennial role as O’Brien’s No 2 rider and a reminder that when it comes to Group One events, jockey bookings are not the most reliable of guides to the relative chances of the yard’s runners.

It could be a point to bear in mind again on Saturday when O’Brien will saddle four of the eight runners in the Group One Irish Oaks at the Curragh, including Savethelastdance and Warm Heart, the top two in the betting.

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