Setting the Scene: Why the Dick Poole Matters

Right, pull up a stool and let me tell you about one of the most underrated afternoons in the two-year-old calendar. The Ire-Incentive, It Pays To Buy Irish Dick Poole Fillies' Stakes — Group 3, six furlongs, seventy-five grand in prize money — is the kind of race that sorts the genuine articles from the pretty faces. Run at Redcar on the third of September, it's a race that has a habit of throwing up fillies who go on to be somebodies. Trainers with Classic ambitions use this as a stepping stone; others come here to prove a point. Either way, with eleven declared and the ground riding Good to Soft, Soft in places, we're in for a proper test of both ability and temperament. This is no gallop on a rattling fast surface — the juice in the ground will expose any filly who's more about flash than substance. Grand.

Going and Draw: The Conditions Are the Story

Let's get this out of the way early because on a day like today, the ground is everything. Good to Soft, Soft in places at Redcar in early September — that's a proper test for babies. Some of these fillies will have only ever felt quick ground beneath their hooves, and you'll see a few of them paddling around like they've never left the yard before. The ones with stamina in their pedigree, the ones who've already shown they can handle a cut in the ground, they're the ones we're backing.

As for the draw at Redcar over six furlongs, it's not as brutal as some tracks but there's a mild lean towards the middle to high numbers when the ground is on the soft side — the rail can get a bit chewed up and the middle of the track tends to ride truer. With that in mind, Draw 8, 9 and 11 are reasonably positioned, while Draw 1 and 2 on the far rail might find themselves doing a bit more work than ideal. Worth factoring in, so it is.

The Main Contenders: Who's Got a Real Shout?

Nuit d'Eclair (Draw 8) — The One They All Have to Beat

I'll not beat around the bush. Nuit d'Eclair, trained by the increasingly impressive Kevin Philippart de Foy and ridden by David Egan, tops the ratings on 100 and is a deserved favourite. A distance winner already, she arrives here with the best credentials in the field and a draw in stall 8 that suits perfectly given the conditions. Philippart de Foy has been one of the trainers of the season — the man knows how to place a horse, and he clearly fancies this one or she wouldn't be here. Egan is bang in form and won't need a roadmap around Redcar. The question isn't whether she's good — she clearly is — it's whether the market will leave any value. Likely not, but she's the selection and I'll not apologise for it.

Dark Issue (Draw 11) — Richard Hannon's Stable Star

Richard Hannon sends two, and it's Dark Issue who wears the stable's first colours here, partnered by Pat Dobbs. Rated 97, she's the second highest in the field and a distance winner to boot. Hannon is a man who knows his juveniles better than most, and when he pitches one into a Group 3 with Dobbs aboard, you pay attention. The wide draw in 11 is a mild inconvenience but on this ground, getting across to a good position early will be key. She's the most obvious danger to the favourite and at a likely bigger price, she might even represent the smarter play for each-way punters.

Miss Kodi (Draw 6) — Clive Cox's Quiet Threat

Don't sleep on Miss Kodi for Clive Cox and Rossa Ryan. Rated 95, a distance winner, drawn in the middle of the track in stall 6 — everything sets up nicely. Cox is meticulous in his preparation and Ryan is a jockey who rides with his head screwed on. She might drift in the market given the presence of the top two, but this filly has the profile of one who could outrun her odds. If the favourite has an off day, Miss Kodi could be the one to mop up.

Acclamation Star (Draw 9) — Shoemark Can Steal a March

Acclamation Star for James Owen and Kieran Shoemark is an interesting one. Rated 94, she's a distance winner and that draw in stall 9 is actually lovely given our going analysis. Shoemark has been riding with real confidence lately and he's the type to produce a well-timed challenge. At a bigger price than the top three, she's absolutely in my each-way calculations.

Harlequin Sky (Draw 2) — Chapple-Hyam's Wildcard

Jane Chapple-Hyam's Harlequin Sky, ridden by Silvestre De Sousa, is rated 93 and has the ability, but that draw in stall 2 on this ground is a concern. De Sousa is experienced enough to compensate, and if she breaks well and gets across, she's not without a chance. But she'd want to be pretty good to overcome the positional disadvantage today.

Love Is (Draw 4) — Hughes's Hopeful

Love Is for Richard Hughes and Oisin Murphy is rated 86 and has won over the trip. Murphy is always dangerous and Hughes knows how to have a juvenile ready. She's not the most fancied on paper but I'd never write off anything Murphy gets his hands on. An each-way outsider worth a small tickle if the price is right.

Value Picks and Each-Way Angles

Right, here's where we get into the good stuff. The market will be dominated by Nuit d'Eclair, and rightly so — but Group 3 races with eleven runners are where fortunes are made each-way. My each-way shortlist looks like this:

  • Nuit d'Eclair — Win selection, no apologies
  • Dark Issue — Each-way, likely a bigger price than she deserves
  • Acclamation Star — Each-way, Shoemark and a lovely draw
  • Miss Kodi — Each-way, Cox and Ryan are a formidable combination

The ones I'm leaving out? Elevating (rated 84, Draw 1 — tough ask) and Impulsive Spirit (unrated, David Evans — interesting but too much of a leap of faith at this level). Fillipas for Rod Millman and Colin Keane has course and distance form which is never to be sniffed at, and Colin Keane riding for anyone is worth a second glance — but rated 82 in this company, she'd want the stars to align.

Tom's Verdict: The Selection

Look, I've been around long enough to know that fading the top-rated horse in a juvenile Group 3 because the price is short is a fool's game. Nuit d'Eclair is the real deal. Kevin Philippart de Foy doesn't bring horses to Group 3s for the fun of it, David Egan is in the form of his life, and stall 8 on this ground is a gift. She's a distance winner, she's the best-rated filly in the field by a clear margin, and everything about her preparation screams confidence.

My selection: Nuit d'Eclair (E/W) — back her to win, and if the price stretches to anything tasty each-way, fill your boots. Dark Issue is the most credible threat and Acclamation Star could outrun her odds for the place money. Check the full Redcar racecard for the latest market moves before you commit.

Good luck to ye — and may the ground not bite any of them too hard.

Who is the favourite for the Dick Poole Fillies' Stakes 2026?

Nuit d'Eclair, trained by Kevin Philippart de Foy and ridden by David Egan, is the clear favourite for the 2026 Dick Poole Fillies' Stakes at Redcar. Rated 100 — the highest mark in the field — she is a proven distance winner and arrives in excellent form. Her draw in stall 8 suits the conditions well, and her trainer's confident declaration makes her the one to beat.

How will the going affect the Dick Poole Fillies' Stakes at Redcar?

The Good to Soft, Soft in places ground at Redcar on 3 September 2026 will be a significant factor. Fillies who have already shown they can handle cut in the ground, or who come from stamina-influenced pedigrees, will have a natural advantage. The softer conditions also tend to favour middle-to-high draws at Redcar over six furlongs, making the rail draws slightly less desirable on the day.

Is there each-way value in the Dick Poole Fillies' Stakes 2026?

Absolutely. With eleven runners declared, bookmakers will typically pay four places each-way, making this a prime race for each-way punters. Dark Issue (rated 97, Richard Hannon) and Acclamation Star (rated 94, James Owen) are the standout each-way propositions — both are proven distance winners with strong jockey bookings and should be available at attractive prices beneath the favourite in the market.