JESS IS THE ALPHA FEMALE

JESSICA HARRINGTON’S Alpha Centauri landed the trainer’s first Classic win in the Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh yesterday.

Ridden by Colm O’Donoghue, the 12-1 shot beat the Aidan O’Brientrained Could It Be Love, who attempted to make all, a length and three-quarters.

Harrington, best known for her exploits in jump racing including winning the 2017 Cheltenham Gold Cup with Sizing John, said: ‘She was fantastic today. We had her spot on.’

The 5-4 favourite, Happily, also trained by O’Brien and ridden by Ryan Moore, finished third. It was the second time in 24 hours that O’Brien had only filled the minor placings in a Classic.

On Saturday, he had seen US Navy Flag and Gustav Klimt beaten by Ken Condon-trained 25-1 chance Romanised in the Irish 2,000 Guineas.

Meanwhile, jockey PJ McDonald won the second Group One race of his career when Laurens, the Newmarket 1,000 Guineas runner-up, trained by Karl Burke, just held on in the Prix Saint-Alary at Longchamp.