Jane Mangan
Jane Mangan’s William Hill Blog: Pretty Polly Day Best Bets 2026
William Hill ambassador Jane Mangan provides her best bets for Pretty Polly Day at the Curragh.
Saturday, Curragh
In the Anglesey Stakes (2:15pm) for two-year-olds I like Immortal Guard. He skipped Royal Ascot having finished a fine third at this track in the Marble Hill over course and distance last time having landed a gamble over course and distance when breaking his maiden on debut. With Confucius having been to Royal Ascot I think he’s opposable on this occasion, and Immortal Guard may be the one to take him on.
In the Fillies’ Handicap (2:45pm) over seven furlongs, I like Bint Majestic Roi. She scored over six furlongs at this track back in April and she followed up at Naas. While she’s gone up in the ratings 20 pounds, I think she’s better than what we saw at Cork last time. I think a little bit of rain in the forecast would help her chances and she’s got a good draw in stall one from which she’s likely to go forward. I think she’s an each-way player.
A number of fillies are backing up from Royal Ascot in the Airlie Stud Stakes (3:20pm) which I think makes the favourite, Sun Goddess, vulnerable. I was impressed with what Green Empress managed to do in defeat against the favourite on her racecourse debut, finishing off her race strong, and while she was beaten five lengths, she’s coming here a fresh filly. Connections could have easily gone for a maiden, but they’ve put here into Group Two company, suggesting that she is held in very high esteem. I’m going for an outsider to usurp the favourite, Green Empress to upset the Ballydoyle contingent in the Airlie Stud.
Thundering On is the one in the Group One Pretty Polly Stakes (3:55pm). She achieved a higher rating than Christmas Day when winning the Oaks at Epsom, the first filly to out-rate the Derby winner’s rating since Enable over a decade earlier. Her mother won this race in 2021 and she’s going to break from the exact same stall, bidding to emulate Minding who won at Epsom and came back in trip to win the Pretty Polly Stakes on her next start in 2016. Thundering on has an official rating of 119 and she’s getting 12 pounds from the older fillies too. Unless she underperforms, she wins.
In the Ladies Derby (4:30pm) I like Johnny Murtagh’s charge here, Fixation. He was denied a clear run when second of 17 runners in a handicap at Leopardstown in April, and while he subsequently disappointed thereafter, I think the application of cheekpieces could bring about considerable improvement in this horse. Georgie Benson’s seven-pound claim is an asset to Fixation and this is his ideal trip. I really think the cheekpieces are going to make the difference for Fixation to run a big race.
