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ALPHA GIRL

Jessica Harrington’s Alpha Centauri a tough nut to crack for Aidan O’Brien’s army of five in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at The Curragh

Alpha Centauri has been specifically saved for this race and was last seen finishing a close second behind Different League in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot

COLM O'DONOGHUE reckons Alpha Centauri can serve it up to the Ballydoyle army in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday.

Jessica Harrington's two-year-old makes her first start since finishing a close second in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot.

 Alpha Centauri ran a cracker at Ascot and has been saved for this race
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Alpha Centauri ran a cracker at Ascot and has been saved for this raceCredit: PA

Jockey O'Donoghue said: "She's a great filly and I'm really looking forward to the race.

"She ran a terrific race in the Albany. She did nothing wrong, she was just beaten by another very good filly.

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  • 1.50 Haydock - Dee Ex Bee: 'Drops in class and can bounce back'
  • 2.05 Kempton - Midterm: 'Tons of ability and showed that last time'
  • 2.25 Haydock - Tasleet: 'Conditions are right up his street and you can forget his last run'
  • 2.45 Ascot - Birchwood: 'Back to his best at Goodwood last time and had strong claims'
  • 3.00 Haydock - Holmeswood: 'Plenty of speed and goes on any ground'
  • 3.15 Kempton - Commodity: 'Proven over this course and distance already'
  • 3.35 Haydock - Ballet Concerto: 'This is his best trip and he has a huge chance'
  • 3.55 Ascot - Cape Coast: 'On the up and this trip is ideal'
  • 4.10 Haydock - Ravenous: 'Knocking on the door and put in a top effort last time'

"The winner has franked the form by running well against colts in the Prix Morny so you couldn't say it was a bad run.

"Our filly is in great form at home and it will be a fantastic race."

Aidan O'Brien saddles five of the 10 runners as he attempts to land this prize for an eighth time.

"They are all kind of owned by different people, we have all the owners (involved) so that's why they are all running," said O'Brien.

 Clemmie has improved since Ascot
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Clemmie has improved since AscotCredit: PA

Clemmie, a full-sister to Churchill, was only seventh in the Albany but has since won the Group 3 Grangecon Stakes at the Curragh and the Group 2 Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket.

"Clemmie is in good form and the better the ground the better it will suit her," he said.

 Magical was impressive on her last start
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Magical was impressive on her last startCredit: PA

Three of O'Brien's hopefuls - Magical, Happily and September - were first, second and fourth respectively in the Debutante Stakes over this same course and distance three weeks ago.

"The fillies that ran in the Debutante all seem to be fine and came out of their races well," said O'Brien.

"They haven't done much as it hasn't been that long since then, but they all seem to be in good form."

Ballet Shoes completes the O'Brien quintet.

The Ballydoyle handler said: "Ballet Shoes came out of her race well and seems to be in good form also."

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