Jane Mangan’s William Hill blog: Seeing is Believing at the Curragh

William Hill ambassador Jane Mangan previews Irish Oaks Day from the Curragh, siding with Johnny Murtagh’s filly in the main event at 3.40pm.

Curragh, Saturday

The Juddmonte Chaldean Irish EBF Maiden (1.30pm) has been won by many horses that have gone on to win at Group One level, including Henry Longfellow who won it last year. This time there’s several Group One entrants, and I like a horse with a bit of experience in the shape of Dakota Blue. He ran behind Surpass at Tipperary where he was a little green but finished his race very well. I think this is a very nice horse for Johnny Murtagh and seven furlongs should be his trip as he has an entry in the National Stakes. If he improves for that run at Tipperary, he should be very hard to beat.

In the Barberstown Castle Sprint Nursery Handicap (2.00pm), I like Donnacha O’Brien’s Shimmy Jimmy. He won well at Navan last time out well under Gavin Ryan, the cheekpieces are retained and they are now employing Paddy Harnett who takes a worthwhile five pounds off and knows him well after riding him to be second in Listowel in June. I think that off a mark of 82, there’s still a bit of juice in his rating. He should be versatile enough to come back here to the Curragh and make his presence felt.

In the Barberstown Castle Sapphire Stakes (3.05pm), I am siding with George Boughey’s filly Believing. She ran fourth at Royal Ascot in the Jubilee, before that was only beaten a length and a half in the King Charles III stakes earlier in the week. That form is rock solid, she’s got Ryan Moore booked and I think that she’ll be very difficult to beat.

My fancy for the Juddmonte Irish Oaks (3.40pm) is Hanalia, a Sea The Stars filly who has supplemented for the race by His Highness the Aga Khan. She won the Naas Oaks trial in some style on good ground last month, quickening up from last to first, beating a subsequent Group winner in Greenfinch. She was slow from the stalls that day, but I think she can race closer to the pace on Saturday. She’s a very interesting classic prospect for the Aga Khan operation, who are having a fabulous season, and I like her chances here.

The Comer Group International Curragh Cup (4.15pm) is Vauban’s race to lose after the rain has come. I don’t think he stayed the trip in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, but he travelled very strongly. For me, he’s the standout class act in the race and whilst Tower of London is a worthy opponent, his best form is on fast ground, and he won’t get that. Therefore, it’s Vauban and Willie Mullins for me.