Midday and Fairy face Polly rematch
Top-class fillies Midday and Snow Fairy feature among a field of eight declared for the Stobart Ireland Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday.
Sir Henry Cecil’s Midday is a five-time winner at Group One level and ran an excellent race to finish second behind St Nicholas Abbey in the Coronation Cup at Epsom on her latest start.
Snow Fairy, trained by Ed Dunlop, had to make do with the runner-up spot behind her reopposing older rival in last year’s Yorkshire Oaks, but she still enjoyed a spectacular campaign.
The four-year-old grabbed Classic glory in both the English and the Irish Oaks before signing off with victories in Japan and Hong Kong.
She met with a setback earlier this year and as a result, this weekend’s start is her first since December.
With regular rider Ryan Moore otherwise engaged, Johnny Murtagh comes in for the mount.
Aidan O’Brien saddles Misty For Me and Empowering, while Jim Bolger turns out Claiomh Solais just over a week after she ran down the field in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Aoife Alainn, Obama Rule and Chrysanthemum complete the line-up.
Stobart Ireland Pretty Polly Stakes, Paddy Power bet: 4-5 Midday, 5-2 Snow Fairy, 6-1 Misty For Me, 20-1 Chrysanthemum, 20-1 Claoimh Solais, 25-1 Aoife Alainn, 33-1 Empowering, 50-1 Obama Rule.
