Pleascach To Plunder Pretty Polly For Bolger

Jack Hobbs won the Irish Derby yesterday with the minimum of fuss, and confirmed the strength of the Epsom form in no uncertain terms. I'm sure Aidan O'Brien will be doubly determined to reclaim the crown next year, as much as Godolphin will be desperate to retain it. Master Carpenter was declared a non runner, but he is one to keep an eye on  later in the season, especially when the weather decides to come in his favour.
Today's feature at The Curragh is the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes, for the fillies and mares, and it has attracted a star studded field. English raiders have tasted success on five of the last seven runnings of the race, and they send a three pronged attack to try and make it six from eight. Secret Gesture and Ribbons are perceived to be the biggest threats by the bookmakers, and are priced up at 10/1 and 7/1 respectively. There is a bit of rain forecast, which would favour Ribbons, and that probably explains why she is a shorter price.
However, of the English trio I believe the value lies with the Ed Walker trained Mutatis Mutandis. who can currently be backed at 40/1. She has looked a different horse this year, and whilst she admittedly is taking a huge step up in class, her trainer thinks the world of her, and she has been supplemented for this race for the princely sum of 25K. Mr Walker has struck form with a vengeance in recent days, and this beautifully bred daughter of Mastercraftsman looks well worth a small saver each way at huge odds on her first crack at Group level.
However, the home team will put up a big fight to keep the Pretty Polly in Ireland this year and the likes of  Legatissimo, the unbeaten Brooch and especially Pleascach will head the Irish challenge. The most likely winner in my eyes is the Bolger filly, who was outbattled over 12F in the Ribblesdale, but had previously looked a serious filly when staying on well off a strong pace to land the Irish Guineas.
Bolger had seemed to have plotted a course that included a tilt at the Irish Derby, and indeed this filly was only taken out of the race very late in the week. This could be regarded as the biggest tip of all as to Pleascach's prospects today, as it seems that the owners realised that Jack Hobbs was a certainty in the Derby and overruled Bolger, who obviously believed Pleascach was worth her place in the field. Instead she tackles what is a much easier race on paper, against her own sex, and also dropping back to 10F, which is also likely to suit. Bolger's highly rated filly Lucida pushed Legatissimo all the way at Newmarket, and if there is confidence behind the Bolger filly in the market it would suggest that Mr.Bolger believes that Pleascach will have the upper hand on the Wachman horse.
Brooch, who has yet to taste defeat in her four runs so far is a bit of an unknown quantity, but Amazing Maria didn't do the strength of the form of her comeback run any harm with an emphatic win at Ascot, putting  useful yardstick Rizeena in her place. Diamondsandrubies, Aidan O'Brien's sole representative in the race, probably has the most attractive pedigree in the field, and was a very unlucky fourth behind Qualify in the Oaks at Epsom. They both should run well but I can't see them troubling the Bolger filly, who is a confident selection to land the spoils at 13/2.

Prediction: 1. Pleascach (13/2)
                   2. Diamondsandrubies(8/1)
                   3. Mutatis Mutandis  (40/1)
                   4. Brooch(5/1)
                   5. Legatissimo (7/4)