Jane Mangan
Jane Mangan’s William Hill Blog: Irish Derby Day Best Bets 2026
William Hill ambassador Jane Mangan is back with her best bets for Irish Derby Day at the Curragh.
Sunday, Curragh
Twenty horses have managed to complete the Derby-Irish Derby (4:35pm) double since Orby in 1907; Santa Claus managed to do it in 1964, and I wonder if in 2026 Christmas Day can arrive in June and emulate the exploits of the likes of Nijinksy, Shergar, Camelot, and Galileo. He’s not near the top of the market because the jockey bookings show Ryan Moore is staying loyal to Benvenuto Cellini, but there was no fluke about the performance at Epsom. With rain forecast, which will aid Christmas Day’s chances, I can see him confirming the form with all his Epsom opponents at The Curragh. Raaheeb may well be the future star, but this is all about the 28th of June and that may well be Christmas Day.
The International Stakes (3:20pm) over 10 furlongs sees Purview drop back in trip after being dominant over a mile and half at the course last time. He’s a horse who threatened to be good last year, coming up just behind the classy Delacroix and Damysus on two high-class occasions. His reintroduction at this course was emphatic, beating Trustyourinstict by six lengths, and I expect him to uphold that form and enhance it, with the drop back in trip not being an issue.
The Derby Festival Handicap (2:45pm) is a really competitive contest over a mile. I like the chances of Perry Mason who won over 10 furlongs here on Guineas weekend. The drop back in trip is not sure to suit but he was a course and distance winner here last year on soft ground. If the forecast rain arrives it may well suit Perry Mason who is running off a six-pound higher mark than winning here on his penultimate start. He blatantly didn’t stay last time so I think this trip might not be all too much of an inconvenience.
In the Dash Stakes (2:10pm) over six furlongs I like the chances of Oh Cecelia who was a very good winner at Cork last April and has been busy since. Her standout piece of form was when she was second at Naas last month behind Havana Anna at a huge price of 50/1. While she disappointed over five furlongs last time at Cork, I think this return to six is really going to suit Oh Cecelia.
In the Maddenstown Handicap (5:15pm) I like the chances of Brownstown who was a heavily campaigned two-year-old last year with decent Group form. I was at Cork when she made her seasonal reappearance behind Zia Zabel and she looked quite heavy like she would improve for the run. Zia Zabel has since gone on to finish second in the Gallinule Stakes to, none other than Causeway, who won the King Edward VII at Royal Ascot last week. I was very disappointed with Brownstown’s performance on her most recent start at Gowran, but since then, they’ve applied a tongue-tie and she’s been dropped a pound, so I’m willing to give her another chance. She’s well handicapped for the form achieved to date, so it’s Brownstown to bounce back and prove her worth.
In the last race, the Ragusa Handicap (5:45pm), I’m with Obscenity who was very impressive when winning over this trip at Gowran Park at the beginning of the month. He comes here off a nine-pound higher mark which is a pretty stern hike, but the manner in which he won at Gowran suggests more is to come from this late-maturing type. The yard is all-conquering, the trip will be perfect, and I think there’s plenty of improvement to come from this horse despite the hike from Gowran.
