Pretty Polly Stakes (Group 1)

The four year-old Brooch faces her stiffest tack to date in keeping her unbeaten run intact in a cracking renewal of this Group 1 Fillies and Mares contest. Last year she hosed up at Galway in her first start, won a listed race at Killarney and a Group 3 at Gowran Park having missed her juvenile season. Her comeback run was the Ridgewood Pearl Stakes here in May where she duly obliged beating Ramone (previously a 100/1 winner of a G3) and Amazing Maria who went on to win at Royal Ascot in the G2 Duke Of Cambridge.

She’ll have to overcome two Guineas winners in Lagatisssimo and Pleascach both impressive at Newmarket and the Curragh respectively. Lagatisssimo steps back in trip having failed to see out the mile and a half in the Epsom Oaks where Qualify outstayed her in the last hundred yards, no doubt she’ll have the stamina to see out this 10 f. Pleascach similarly didn’t see out the 12 f at Ascot in the Ribblesdale and likewise will benefit from the drop in trip. Tamaadhor complimented the Curragh form when winning at Fairyhouse.

Diamondsandrubies won the Cheshire Oaks in good style. At Epsom she was one of the sufferers when cannoned into and actually did very well to finish 4th. The concern is this trip might be a bit sharp for her in this company.

From France comes John Hammond’s Pollyana. It’s a while since she’s sparkled but she is a G2 winner of the Daniel Windenstein at Lonchamp on Arc day in 2013.

Travelling from England is Mutatis Mutandis from the Ed Walker stable. She a winner twice last including at listed level but this is a major step up in class. Ribbons accompanies her crossing the water as does Secret Gesture. Ribbons has already proved she can travel when winning the G1 Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville last August and she also ran 2nd to We Are in the Prix De L’Opera on Arc day. Recently she was held by Secret Gesture at York in the Middleton who made all to win in good style. No doubt the latter will try to make it all here again.

Dermot Weld is well renowed for his patience and that will be rewarded here by Brooch. She’s got to give weight to the three-year olds which is a big ask first time out at top-level but she oozes class in all she’s done to date and she looks well capable of putting the younger generation in their place.

Recommendation: Brooch 11/2 win