Caroline’s & Jaysella’s Saturday Selections for 27th June 2026

Caroline’s Saturday Selections from The Curragh & Jaysella’s York Picks

The Curragh

Jebel Ali Racecourse And Stables Anglesey Stakes (Group 3) 2.15
Immortal Guard
Now then, I do think that all the money going down on Confucius for this Group 3 makes sense, but I’m taking a chance on Immortal Guard. Obviously you’ll be wanting an explanation for going against Aidan O’Brien’s odds-on favourite, and considering he was last seen in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot just last week, I’ll be getting yuzz. Well, I didn’t think Confucius was the finished product for that Group 2, and this is a quick turnaround, so Robson Aguiar’s Persian Force colt makes more appeal to me. Just the two runs here at The Curragh, and a two and a half length third to Great Barrier Reef looks the best form to me, after that Coventry Stakes, so Immortal Guard gets my vote!

Neville Homes Summer Fillies Handicap (Premier Handicap) 2.45
Meriden
I do think that Denis Hogan’s Meriden could be the one for this Fillies Handicap. There’s really been no stopping her since brought back in trip at Down Royal in May, and after scoring here at The Curragh and at Leopardstown since, I really hope she can bring up this four-timer. But for all that, this is an ultra competitive Handicap, and up against older fillies does ask for more, though current form and this quicker ground both tick some boxes in her favour, so I’ll take that chance. Joseph O’Brien’s Greydreambeliever can go close for the in-form Joseph O’Brien, but Meriden may not have stopped progressing yet.

Airlie Stud Stakes (Group 2) (Fillies) 3.20
Sun Goddess
I thought that Aidan O’Brien’s Sun Goddess had all but won the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot last week, until she was caught in the final furlong by Libertango. But, I’m telling yuzz all that Ryan Moore has a bit of unfinished business in his mind for this Sioux Nation filly, so I do expect him to justify the odds-on price on Sun Goddess and deliver the Airlie Stud Stakes back to Ballymore. Of course, Paddy Twomey’s Velozee has had four runs, and her latest run in the Queen Mary Stakes at Ascot was better than the bare result looked, while Joseph O’Brien’s Green Empress could improve from her debut second here, and these three should be the ones to be in the mix. Yes, Sun Goddess to confirm that the very short price on her was well judged, when she takes the Airlie Stud Stakes.

Paddy Power Pretty Polly Stakes (Group 1) (Fillies & Mares) 3.55
Thundering On (nb)
For me, this is a great race of the ages, in that the three year old Thundering On lines up against the five year old Estrange. Having taken Classic glory in the Oaks at Epsom, Thundering On is in open company for this Pretty Polly Stakes, but I do believe that we are seeing a great daughter of Frankel that can go to the very top of the middle distance ratings. In David O’Meara’s Estrange, this striking grey has mixed it up with some of the very best fillies last season, losing to Kalpana in the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot, and earlier Minnie Hauk in the Yorkshire Oaks. However, for all my days I’m telling yuzz that Thundering On is a very exciting filly, and should be the best able to cope with this shorter trip for the Pretty Polly.

York

Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dash Handicap 2.25
Fortification
Horse for courses I reckon, so it’s Fortification for this Dubai Dash. Brian Ellison’s Mehmas gelding won here in May over this trip, and in a better race next time out was fourth, but less than a length behind the winner, and then I thought he put in a great shift to finish third over 6 furlongs two weeks ago back here again. Ben Robinson’s back up top, and maybe with such a liking for the Knavesmire, Fortification can score again. Oisin Murphy on the filly Naana’s Shadow rates a danger, having won on the fastest 5 furlong track anywhere at Epsom last time out, with Karl Burke’s filly Stargazed my each-way pick.

Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Criterion Stakes (Group 3) 2.58
Never So Brave (nap)
The classy Never So Brave should be winning this, back on preferred quicker ground. Last year, Never So Brave won the City Of York Stakes here in August, with that race newly upgraded to a Group One, and this looks one whole lot easier piece of meat to chew in a Group 3. William Haggas’s Night Of Thunder colt, Saber Strike gets 9lbs from Never So Brave, and is gonna like this ground too, so Tom Marquand has every right to fancy his chances, while William Knight’s Royal Velvet is a whole lot better than her run in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Ascot last week. That’s me three, but with Oisin Murphy in the hot seat, Never So Brave is winnin’ this for me!