LEOPARDSTOWN’S pre-Galway card generally features small fields, compensated for by the presence of some classy juveniles, and so it was again in this year’s edition where odds-on favourite Alpha followed up a wide-margin Curragh maiden success in the Saudi Cup Silver Flash Stakes over seven furlongs.

This time, however, the 1/6 chance, owned by Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd along with the Coolmore partners, was far from impressive in the Group 3 contest in which she jumped awkwardly from stalls and was free in the early stages under Ryan Moore. In the straight, she reeled in pace-setting stablemate Nevermindtherain before edging left in the closing stages and clinging on to record a head victory over fast-finishing Dancing Destiny.