Jane Mangan’s William Hill Blog: Whistlejacket on track to Bear the torch

William Hill ambassador Jane Mangan previews Phoenix Stakes day from the Curragh, where Whistlejacket is set to star in the feature Group 1 (4.35pm)

Saturday, Curragh

The opening two-year-old maiden (1.45pm) at the Curragh this weekend tends to be very good. It’s been won in recent years by Diego Velazquez, Al Riffa and Thunder Moon who’ve all gone on to bigger and better things. One who could fit that profile is Aidan O’Brien’s Delacroix. The Dubawi colt put in a really nice performance behind the more experienced Green Impact on debut at Leopardstown, finishing off the race nicely despite having raced greenly. Aidan O’Brien has had 28 individual two-year-old winners this season and I think this guy can make it 29.

The third race on the card is a conditions race for two-year-old fillies over seven furlongs (2.50pm) for which I like Ballet Slippers. She’s a Dubawi out of Magical which makes her one of the most impeccably bred fillies in the country. She’s got a Group 1 entry in the Moyglare Stud Stakes, and her debut performance behind Red Letter over this course and distance was very solid. She should come on from that experience, and she’s coming from a top team who I expect to have a very profitable day.

The next race on the card, is the Group 3 Phoenix Sprint Stakes over six furlongs (3.25pm). It has attracted a good field of 13 runners, and I expect the UK contenders to dominate here. I have a lot of respect for Electric Storm, but I have more respect for Kind Of Blue considering the weight concession for the three-year-olds and his rating of 109. He ran a very nice race in the Commonwealth Cup, beaten only just four lengths by Inisherin. His run behind Elite Status in the Hackwood Stakes is another stand out piece of form, too, and he’s the one for me.

The Holden Plant Rentals Handicap (4.00pm) could go the way of So Majestic. Despite not winning this season she has put in some solid performances, most notably last time when she was second to a stable companion at Cork, over the quick five-furlong tirp. She’s already been Stakes-placed behind Aesop’s Fables at Naas, and I think this is a good opportunity for her to get her head back in front. She’s a highly tried filly and it looks like this could be her time to shine.

The Phoenix Stakes (4.35pm) is a disappointing renewal for me as I feel it lacks depth. The filly Babouche is exciting, but I don’t see her good enough to beat the colt, Whistlejacket. Aidan O’Brien has won this race 17 times, and I think he’ll make it 18 with Whistlejacket who will follow in his brother Little Big Bear’s footsteps, who won this race two years ago.

The penultimate race (5.10pm) is a six-furlong handicap and I think Seamie Heffernen will be really disappointed he’s at Ascot for the Shergar Cup, missing the ride on Lucky Out, a filly he rode to success at Galway. She has a six-pound hike and Seamie has been replaced by Colin Keane. Thomas Mullins had another winner on the Flat at Naas last weekend and I think his horses are in terrific order. I don’t think that the penalty will prove an issue for her, and the revert back to six furlongs should cause no problem and she should go back-to-back.