Login
WATCH FREE
1-6 favourite Alpha clings on to win eventful Silver Flash Stakes
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Thu 23 Jul 2026
Alpha just got home in an eventful renewal of the Saudi Cup Silver Flash Stakes at Leopardstown.
All the rage for the Group Three contest as the 1-6 favourite after breaking her maiden by six lengths at the second attempt at the Curragh last month to enter Classic consideration, Aidan O’Brien’s runner was a little awkwardly away on this occasion.
Stablemate Nevermindtherain went on and was still in a sizeable advantage at halfway, before Ryan Moore got lower in the saddle on the market leader with two furlongs to run.
Alpha duly made the ground up, but began to tread water as the line approached and in another stride 20-1 chance Dancing Destiny might have reeled her in. As it was, she held on by a head.
O’Brien said: “She won, obviously. It was a bit messy at the start. She was a little bit slow away. Ryan said he just gave her a little root to wake up and then she came on the bridle and was doing a little bit too much. And then Wayne (Lordan, on Nevermindtherain) got away and it was just a mess really. Anyway, she won and it was grand.
“She got a little bit tired as well. We are training her as the races are work rather than races, if you know what I mean. If they are not really wound up and it goes wrong at the start it can be difficult. I thought she did well to win. She will be fine. I look forward to her the next day. The plan will be to go for the Debutante at the Curragh.”
Green Dreamer (5-1) stepped markedly forward from his first start at Killarney to take the Frank Conroy Irish EBF Maiden.
Only fifth of six on his racecourse bow, Joseph O’Brien’s charge was quickly into stride and stayed in front to account for Aidan O’Brien’s 4-9 favourite Shakespeare – who ran green throughout – by two lengths.
“He had a nice debut run and we thought that he’d improved. I’d say probably the first three are good horses and it was a good race,” said the winning trainer.
“The second horse looked green and our horse was very genuine and straight. He’ll probably step into one of those mile stakes races now.”
Sea Of Rain (9-4 favourite) had a wealth of experience heading into the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Fillies Maiden and made that pay with an emphatic success for the in-form Jim Bolger team.
Bolger’s travelling head lad Ger Flynn said: “We got beat by a pixel here one evening. It was the shortest of short heads. That’s how unlucky she had been.
“The boss had a belief in her. We all had belief in her. She delivered today and showed us what she had been doing at home.
“The further she goes, the better she gets. Obviously she’s progressing as the year goes on. It’s onwards and upwards with her.”
Florida Bay upstages Aix La Chapelle in Tyros Stakes
Aidan O’Brien landed another Japan Racing Association Tyros Stakes at Leopardstown – but it was Florida Bay rather than Aix La Chapelle who won the day.
All eyes were on Aix La Chapelle, who would have started favourite for the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot but was withdrawn after rearing in the stalls.
Easy to back in this Group Three, Ryan Moore was urging the Justify colt along before three out and the writing was on the wall from there, although to his credit he did run on at the finish to be third.
Up front Ballydoyle second-string Florida Bay – beaten at odds-on last time out but a handy winner before that – was full of running under Wayne Lordan and while 6-4 favourite Folsom Blues flew home he was a length and a quarter adrift at the finish.
O’Brien said of the 7-2 winner: “Very happy. The last day, they went too fast. They got ganged up and they went too hard. Wayne gave him a good ride. He let him bowl along and he won nicely.
“He’s not slow. Even a mile could be far enough for him. He could be a horse for the Futurity.”
Join Racing TV for FREE!
Related posts
Glorious Goodwood tips: Alex Scott's five best bets
Redknapp and Skelton teaming up for the first time with exciting new recruit
Monday Galway tips: Johnny Ward likes a 25-1 shot on Day One
2026 Galway Festival tips: Donn McClean's five best bets
Constitution River on course for huge Ombudsman clash
Featured offers
Bet £10 get £40 in free bets with Kwiff
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Get a £50 free bet when you bet £50 with Coral
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Bet £10 get £30 in Free Bets with BallyBet
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Bet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets + MB as a Free Bet if 2nd to SP Fav- Galway and Goodwood with BOYLE Sports
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Bet £10 get £30 in Free Bets with TalkSportBet
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Copyright 2026 Racing TV - All Rights Reserved.
Please bet responsibly
Copyright 2026. All rights reserved