Newmarket Pretty Polly Stakes Tips & Betting Preview

This is the Newmarket Pretty Polly Stakes, raced over 1m 2f, see our betting tips below.

IN SUMMARY: This is an interesting contest and John Gosden’s ASTRONOMY’S CHOICE gets the verdict. She won a decent maiden at Newmarket last year and the step up in trip should see her improve plenty against a field of fillies that are slightly more exposed than her. John Gosden has won this race for the past three years and he could make it four today. Miss Infinity has the aid of Ryan Moore in the saddle although she’s less than certain to stay the trip whilst Horseplay is worth a go in this company having thrashed a modest bunch at the end of last year.

1 ASTRONOMY’S CHOICE – John Gosden has been in sensational form of late with a 36% strike rate in the past fortnight and he runs this fascinating daughter of Redoute’s Choice. She did well to win a smart maiden at Newmarket last October having been extremely green and she won that race a shade more cosily than the 1/2 length distance suggests. She steps up in trip by 3 furlongs here and there should be so much more to come from her for a stable that have won this for the past three years.

2 HORSEPLAY – Andrew Balding’s filly was the definition of an easy winner on her last start, winning by an eased down 13 lengths. The form looks decidedly poor although she’s clearly better than that grade and is worth her chance in Listed company today. She has something to find with a couple of these on what they have achieved to date but she’s lightly raced and there should be a lot more to come from her. The stable have sent out just 2 winners from 29 runners in the past fortnight which is a slight concern.

3 ISABEL DE URBINA – 145,000GNS purchase and she was well-supported on debut to win by a neck at Ffos Las. The second has since been beaten off a mark of 79 in handicap company which is slightly off-putting and she will need to improve upon that form significantly to win this. The step up in trip should suit her down to the ground although Ralph Beckett’s horses have been slightly quiet of late with just 2 winners from 25 runners in the last 14 days.

4 KAZIMIERA – Charlie Appleby’s filly has been highly tried since winning her debut at Ascot last July. She was only beaten 2 3/4 lengths by a smart sort in a Listed contest at Newmarket in October and she had finished fourth in another Listed event at the Curragh earlier that month. She struggled on her seasonal reappearance when well-beaten in a Group 3 but this is easier and she should strip fitter here. This is a big step up in trip but she does have some stamina on her dam’s side.

5 MISS INFINITY – Mark Johnston and Ryan Moore partnered up for a success aboard Permian yesterday and they will be hopeful of a good run from this filly today. She’s an exposed sort but she’s the highest rated filly in the race having finished third in the Shadwell Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket last September. This is obviously an experiment now stepping her up in trip from 7 furlongs to a mile and 2 furlongs and she’s probably best watched on the back of that.

6 TEOFONIC – Finished behind Kazimiera when the pair met last October and she makes her seasonal reappearance today. She’s another runner for Mark Johnston in this and the step up in trip shouldn’t be an issue given she’s by Teofilo and this faster ground should see her home. Jockey bookings suggest she’s the second string in the yard and she’s slightly more exposed than some of her rivals today.