Dry Deauville suits Jessica

JESSICA Harrington is praying the rain stays away from Deauville as she unleashes stable star Alpha Centauri in tomorrow’s Prix Jacques le Marois.

The electric miler, who has lit up the fillies’ division this season, takes on the boys in the the Group One contest.

The Niarchos familyowned ace has carried all before her this season, winning the Irish 1,000 Guineas, Coronation Stakes and Falmouth Stakes impressively.

She suffered her only defeat at Leopardstown in April on heavy ground.

Harrington said: “Alpha Centauri is in good form and I have been happy with her.

“They haven’t had half as much rain (in Deauville) as they thought they would and it should stay dry now. We’ll keep our fingers crossed.”

Alpha Centauri is a red-hot favourite to win her fourth Group One on the bounce. Paddy Power spokesman Paul Binfield said: “Alpha Centauri is the only horse we’re laying in the Marois and given that we are a slightly shorter price than some other bookies, because our traders love this filly, it just shows how much punters consider her to be a stone-bonking certainty.”

But she will face a tough cookie in Accidental Agent, who won the Group One Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Trainer Eve Johnson Houghton said: “Everything has gone to plan with him since Ascot and we couldn’t be happier.

“We are just really looking forward to it.”