Pretty Polly Stakes Day At The Curragh – Latest Odds and Best Betting Tips

Jim Bolger’s Trading Leather grabbed the headlines at the Curragh yesterday when winning the Irish Derby. Today the fillies’ race for Group 1 glory in the Pretty Polly Stakes; here we take a look at the feature races at today’s meeting and provide some free betting tips.

2.35 Curragh – Grangecon Stud Stakes (Group 3) 6f

E/W Selection: PEARL EARING @ 11/1 with Bet Victor

This race sees two solid, if not a little unspectacular, yardsticks in Heart Focus and Bye Bye Birdie take on a group of unexposed types. The former probably deserves her place at the top of the market after a solid 4^th in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot, however she has already run 5 times and this race comes just 9 days after that effort; others may arrive fresher. Bye Bye Birdie made little impact at the Royal meeting and the fitting of the visor needs to spark her into life. Having said all of that they have some solid pieces of form in terms of this race, but they do look worth taking on at the prices. The selection is trained by David Wachman and on her only start so far she was just beaten by the re-opposing Bluebell. That was over 7f and the drop back to 6f seems a smart move given the way she travelled throughout that race. Bred to have plenty of speed and it would be no surprise to see her reverse that form with that run behind her. Lacks experience in comparison to the market leaders but is unexposed and there was plenty to like about her debut effort.

3.35 Curragh – Oxigen Environmental Pretty Polly Stakes (Group 1) 1m2f

Selection: ALIVE ALIVE OH @ 2/1 with Paddy Power

ALIVE ALIVE OH was well tipped up for the Oaks and for the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot but having bypassed both those races she ends up here over 1m2f against some older fillies. She was much too good for her opposition last time out in a Listed event at Navan, beating a Group 3 winner in Magical Dream by 6L. She travelled ominously well throughout before forging clear, staying the trip well and possibly would improve over further than this. Quick ground was the reason for her skipping Ascot so that still is an obstacle she must overcome here but she is a good mover and hopefully she can cope with the ground fine. This is a big step up in class and she faces some smart rivals with the likes of Oaks winner Was, Ribblesdale winner Princess Highway and consistent Shirocco Star all lining up. However she looked a potential superstar last time out and her turn of foot could make her hard to beat.

5.15 Curragh – Attheraces Curragh Cup (Group 3) 1m6f

E/W Selection: ROYAL DIAMOND @ 13/2 with Ladbrokes

The selection won the Group 1 Irish St Leger over this course and distance last term and is now under the care of jockey turned trainer Johnny Murtagh. He ran a solid race last time out when finishing behind Glen’s Diamond in the Yorkshire Cup in soft ground. He will be better suited by the quicker conditions today and he has gone well at this track in his two starts to date which is also in his favour. He has a penalty to contend with but he is a consistent type and these conditions ought to bring out the best in him.

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