Harrington is classic Alpha female

● Trainer breaks her duck with Irish 1,000 Guineas win

Jessica Harrington realised a long-held ambition as she registered her first Classic success with Alpha Centauri in the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh.

Harrington has enjoyed plenty of success both in the National Hunt division and the Flat sphere, but a big space on her CV reserved for one of the Classics has now been filled.

Could It Be Love held a notable advantage in the mile heat with a couple of furlongs to run before Colm O’donoghue delivered his mount down the middle of the track to win by a length and three-quarters, with the favourite Happily only third.

“It’s fantastic – I’ve finally got the Classic,” said Harrington. “I’ve been second and third and the horses have always run really well, but this is dream come true for me to win a Classic. It’s almost as good as winning a Gold Cup!

“To win a race like this is absolutely fantastic. I’m just waiting for the Ascot winner now. This is the first time since Ascot last year that she’s got good ground and that’s the key to her. She likes good, quick ground.”

Harrington, pictured, could also look to Royal Ascot with Indigo Balance (7-1) who won the opening Tally Ho Stud Irish EBF (C&G) Maiden.

Lancaster Bomber trumped his better-fancied stablemate Cliffs Of Moher to claim the Tattersalls Gold Cup. Trying the trip for the first time, Seamie Heffernan took up the running in the early stages on the eventual winner and built up a big advantage. While Cliffs Of Moher and favourite Defoe did close, Lancaster Bomber (10030) was going away again at the line and won by two lengths. Traineraidano’brien said: “He’s been running at the top level the whole time, all in Group Ones, and obviously we didn’t think he’d get a mile and a quarter. That’s the first time we did it with him and let him roll on beautiful ground. He was there for everyone to follow and Seamus gave him a great ride, he went even to halfway and he kept going.”

O’brien was also on the mark with 6-5 favourite Lucius Tiberius in the closing Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.

Mick Halford’s Platinum Warrior boosted the Derby claims of Hazapour when running out a clear-cut winner of the Airlie Stud Gallinule Stakes.

Only fourth behind Dermot Weld’s Epsom hope in the Derrinstown Derby Trial, he landed this Group Three with the minimum of fuss.