Alanza has Falmouth in her sights

The John Oxx-trained Alanza earned a crack at the Group 1 Fal mouth Stakes at Newmarket’s July Meeting when justifying odds-on favouritism in the Group 3 Ballycorus Stakes at Leopardstown last night, the second leg of a double for the in-form Curragh trainer and Johnny Murtagh.

Continuous rain from mid-afternoon turned the ground to ‘soft’ after the third race, a deterioration from the ‘Good, good to firm in the straight’ description at lunchtime.

But even the softening ground didn’t hinder Alanza, a proven fast ground filly, as she quickened from off the pace to head front-running Marvada approaching the furlong-pole. Clearly on top, the Dubai Destination filly appeared to idle, causing Murtagh to get to work before holding her rival by a neck.