June 28 / 15.30 Curragh

15.30

Good

Paddy Power Pretty Polly Stakes (Group 1) (Fillies & Mares)

  • Prize money: £146280.99
  • 1m 2f 0y
  • 7 runners
ITV
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Paddy Power Pretty Polly Stakes (Group 1) (Fillies & Mares)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

OUR TIP

Form: 8131-6 D

Last run: 62 days

W: 9st 12lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Progressive filly in the latter part of last season, winning twice in France, a Listed race at Longchamp and a Group 3 at Toulouse, dominating from the front both times; set a very stiff challenge when taking on five colts on seasonal debut in the Prix Ganay, ended up last of six after making the running; suited by plenty of ease in the ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

(14)

20th Sep 2025

Yielding To Soft

1m 1f 100y

14:52 Gowran Park

Higher Leaves

9st 7lb

J: Gary Carroll

T: Henry De Bromhead

One of three runners for yard; won three races last year including a Listed and Group 3 in France over a furlong further than this; has faced some stiff tasks this year but run creditably at times; unseated early at the Curragh last week; handles testing ground; considered.

6/1

2

(4)

14th Sep 2025

Good To Yielding

1m 2f 0y

17:00 Curragh

Higher Leaves

9st 8lb

J: W J Lee

T: Henry De Bromhead

Progressive at the backend of last season with Listed and Group 3 wins in France; first two runs this year were highly ambitious; held by One Look on C&D running in July; hooded now.

16/1

1

(2)

20th Jul 2025

Good

1m 2f 0y

14:30 Curragh

Higher Leaves

9st 8lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Henry De Bromhead

Progressive at the backend of last season with Listed and Group 3 wins in France; overfaced when set a tough task in the Group 1 Prix Ganay on seasonal return and similar story on latest in the Pretty Polly over C&D; drop in class a plus but softer ground would be preferable.

7/2

20/1

Form: 118-25

Last run: 34 days

W: 9st 12lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Leopardstown 7f maiden winner on debut; coped well with rise in class in a Group 3 at the same track next time; down the field in the Group 1 Matron Stakes on final start last season; began the new campaign with a satisfactory second in a Listed race at Gowran; fifth behind Porta Fortuna in a Group 2 event here a month ago; will need a career-best to hold her own.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

(1)

10th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket (July)

Jancis

9st 9lb

J: Sean Levey

T: W McCreery

5yo who has been a big improver this year, winning the Group 2 Dahlia Stakes on the other Newmarket course (1m1f, good to firm) on her reappearance and producing a career best when second to Blue Bolt in the Group 2 Duke Of Cambridge at Royal Ascot (1m, good to firm) last month, beaten just under 2l under a 3lb penalty; they reoppose off level weights and she's not ruled out.

11/1

2nd

1

(9)

17th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 213y

Class 1

15:40 Ascot

Jancis

9st 5lb

J: Sean Levey

T: W McCreery

Tends to go well fresh and it was a clear career best when reappearing to win 1m1f Group 2 at Newmarket (good to firm; Cathedral second, Francophone fourth, Falakeyah sixth) in May; didn't quite match that form when fifth in similar company at the Curragh three weeks later, albeit with that race not panning out ideally; 3lb penalty will likely leave her vulnerable again, though.

18/1

5th

7

(1)

24th May 2026

Good To Yielding

1m 0f 0y

15:20 Curragh

Jancis

9st 2lb

J: Sean Levey

T: W McCreery

Smart form in winning her first two races at three; failed to add to her tally last season; posted a career-best to win a 1m1f Group 2 event at Newmarket three weeks ago; has the beating of Francophone on that running; strong contender if she can replicate that form on slower ground; seems ideally suited by a quick surface.

7/2

Form: 3111-3 D

Last run: 34 days

W: 9st 12lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Third in last year's Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot; maintained progress with wins in 1m3f Listed race at Hamilton and 1m4f Group 3 on AW at Kempton; took her form to a new level when landing the Group 1 Fillies & Mares on soft ground at Ascot; did not get the best of runs when third in the Tattersalls Gold Cup here last month; probably best over further but has strong claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

11

(2)

20th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 1

15:05 Ascot

Kalpana

9st 0lb

J: Colin Keane

T: Andrew Balding

Very smart mare who defied a penalty in Group 3 at Newbury (1m4f; beat West Wind Blows by a neck) on seasonal debut, taking record since wearing cheekpieces to 2-3 and running right up to her best; strong record at Ascot features wins in the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes for the last two years (soft/good) and an excellent second in the 2025 King George; avoids a Group 1 penalty in this race and has a major chance at the weights.

9/4

1st

1

(2)

16th May 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

13:25 Newbury

Kalpana

9st 6lb

J: Colin Keane

T: Andrew Balding

Had excellent campaigns in 2024 and 2025, both of which ended with Group 1 success in good style against her own sex on Champions Day at Ascot; she also started last season with a big run in an Irish Group 1 and was an excellent second in the King George at Ascot in July; wore cheekpieces last two starts; concedes 4lb to male rivals today but probably still the one to beat.

10/11

25/1

Form: 160-31 D

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 12lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Listed winner in Germany last year over 1m1f; ran respectably when third in a 1m4f Listed event at this venue on seasonal/stable debut; relegated a shorter-priced favourite to fifth when winning a 1m4f Group 3 race at Cork; down in trip now and takes a big rise in class.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

(4)

29th Feb 2024

Standard

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

18:30 Chelmsford (AW)

Magical Hope

8st 11lb

J: David Probert

T: Charlie Appleby

prominent

7/4

Form: 2177-2

Last run: 40 days

W: 9st 12lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Unbeaten juvenile; smart form last season; second in the Prix de Diane and won a Group 2 Longchamp event over 1m4f on good to soft ground; final two starts as a 3yo were respectable, placing seventh in both the Prix Vermeille and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe; solid display when chasing home the Arc second Aventure at Saint-Cloud last month; could go well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

16

(8)

16th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

17:35 Ascot

Survie

9st 0lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: George Boughey

Ex-French mare who has several pieces of Group 1 form over middle distances, including in Saudi Arabia for this yard in February; however, she's been well below par in her two outings back in Britain this spring, albeit with 1m on AW too sharp for her on the first occasion.

12/1

3rd

13

(10)

3rd May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 0y

Class 1

14:20 Newmarket

Survie

9st 2lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: George Boughey

Ex-French mare who has several pieces of Group 1 form over middle distances, including a Saudi effort since joining new yard this year; unsuited by drop back to 1m last time when one place behind Cathedral, losing her unbeaten AW record; big player on peak figures.

4/1

Form: 13-514 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 0lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Made most to win 1m Cork maiden last October, beating this year's Oaks heroine Minnie Hauk; best of three Group 3 efforts when winning a 1m2f fillies' race at Navan; ran out of steam in the final furlong of the Oaks, finishing fourth 5l behind runner-up Whirl.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

(5)

27th Jun 2026

Good

1m 2f 0y

15:55 Curragh

Wemightakedlongway

9st 12lb

J: J M Sheridan

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Last season's best performances came in Group 1s, runner-up in the Irish Oaks (1m4f, good) and close fourth in the Prix de l'Opera at Longchamp (1m2f, very soft), just behind One Look; well held by Estrange on Ascot running; this season's form is unconvincing; visored now.

33/1

4th

8

(2)

7th Jun 2026

Good

1m 1f 0y

15:27 Navan

Wemightakedlongway

9st 4lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Last season's best performances came in Group 1s when runner-up in the Irish Oaks at the Curragh (1m4f, good) and very close fourth in the Prix de l'Opera at Longchamp (1m2f, very soft); flopped on reappearance at Cork; Haydock third was reassuring; however, best at 1m2f-1m4f.

9/2

11/8

Form: 11-612 C

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 0lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Won 1m Group 3 at this venue on fourth and final start at two; below-par reappearance here in April; much more like it to win the Group 3 Musidora at York a month later, led over 3f out and ran on strongly; career-best when second in the Oaks, made the running and rallied well after being headed, emerging with almost as such as credit as stablemate Minnie Hauk.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

(4)

31st Jul 2025

Good

1m 1f 197y

Class 1

15:05 Goodwood

Whirl

9st 0lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Easily won the Group 3 Musidora Stakes at York (1m2f, good to firm) in May before pushing Minnie Hauk close in the Oaks (1m4f, good to soft; 4l back to third) and her stablemate followed up in the Irish Oaks; won the Group 1 Pretty Polly at the Curragh (1m2f, good) last time and the runner-up Kalpana franked that form when second in the King George on Saturday; major player.

5/4

7

(7)

28th Jun 2025

Good

1m 2f 0y

15:30 Curragh

Whirl

9st 0lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Won 1m Group 3 at this venue on fourth and final start at two; below-par reappearance here in April; much more like it to win the Group 3 Musidora at York a month later, led over 3f out and ran on strongly; career-best when second in the Oaks, made the running and rallied well after being headed, emerging with almost as such as credit as stablemate Minnie Hauk.

11/8

2nd

9

(9)

6th Jun 2025

Good To Soft

1m 4f 6y

Class 1

16:00 Epsom

Whirl

9st 2lb

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O’Brien

By Wootton Bassett; progressed nicely last year, on final start making most and rallying splendidly to take a 1m Group 3 at the Curragh (1m, soft) with Giselle among those on her heels; never seriously involved on reappearance and started joint-third favourite of six for the Group 3 Musidora at York (10.3f) a month later but she led over 3f out and ran on strongly to win in style; dam 1m winner but dam's sister Hydrangea won Group 1s over 1m and 1m4f; shapes as if she will stay and has big each-way chance.

9/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €3.20
Straight Forecast €3.12
Trifecta €13.00

Selections

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Kalpana

SPOTLIGHT:

Whirl

The Irish Sun:

Whirl

TOPSPEED:

Kalpana

POSTDATA:

Kalpana