Jane Mangan’s William Hill blog: You’ve got to be Serious about Notions at the Curragh

William Hill ambassador Jane Mangan previews Sunday’s action from the Curragh.

Curragh, Sunday

The Group Three Anglesey Stakes (2.10pm) for two-year-olds over six furlongs has attracted a very strong field. Some have been to Royal Ascot and have disappointed, hence they come here looking to redeem themselves. One filly who comes here with her reputation fully intact is Babouche. She was an emphatic winner over this trip at Cork, really knuckling down in the final furlong. Her pedigree is divine, and I thought it was a really professional display at Cork, where she showed she could have something extra to come. She holds multiple Group One entries, which isn’t a typical habit of the trainer Ger Lyons, so they must like her. She’s the one for me.

In the Group Two Minstrel Stakes (3.15pm), I like Mutasarref, who’s a course and distance winner who shot back into form at Leopardstown and Naas. He’s versatile, will handle any ease in the ground, and I think this is very much his trip whereas a lot of his rivals here are better over further. He gets his ideal conditions here and I like his chances.

The Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap (3.45pm) is next. This is an interesting affair for fillies and I like Ger Lyons’ contender Serious Notions. She was a winner of a maiden at Roscommon last time and the handicapper has left her alone on a mark of 88 which I think is quite generous based on some of her two-year-old form. She ran third at Irish Champions Weekend last autumn, three lengths behind Kitty Rose and half a length behind Ryan Moore’s mount in the Irish Oaks, Content. Her form since then has been a bit in and out but she’s got back to winning ways now. She has a workable mark here with the champion jockey Colin Keane aboard, and I think she can follow up here.

The Group Three Meadow Court Stakes (4.20pm) is likely to centre around the fitness of Jackie Oh on her reappearance. She has the best form in this race and would be well treated by the conditions of the race, but is she fit? Based on that, I’m going for Jack Channon’s Caernarfon. She has race fitness on her side, winning the Pipalong Stakes at Pontefract beating the Kensington Palace winner in Doha, her first win in a while having contested some hot races. I think the drop in trip has worked wonders for her and I like her chances on Sunday.

The Fleetwood Paints Irish EBF Maiden (4.55pm) is over a mile and a half and if the rain comes, this could turn into a test of stamina which would suit Sidiza for Dermot Weld and Chris Hayes. She stayed on from the back on her only start behind Hanalia, who’s now contesting the Irish Oaks, and the second filly that day has come out subsequently and won. She showed that day she stays strongly as well as that she handles soft ground. I think that this filly by Sea The Moon will relish stepping up to a mile and a half and serve it up to the colts, especially if any more rain falls.