Lady Alexander, who can claim - at least prior to Saturday's English Derby - to be the only horse to finish in front of King Of Kings, made a splendid start to her second season last week when she came within a whisker of flooring a big public gamble on Strike Hard in the Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh.
Putting that run into perspective, she was set to give 7 lb to the winner, who had the advantage of a previously successful run this year. On that score, a 4 lb turn around in the weights should suffice to turn the tables in the Group Three Ballyogan Stakes at Leopardstown today.
Her biggest purse last year came in the Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood, and coincidentally the two English challengers that will oppose Lady Alexander are headed by Almaty, who when trained here by Con Collins also won the Molecomb Stakes.
If this happened to be one of Almaty's good days, he would be a real factor. But with age, he seems to have become unreliable. He did manage to beat Compton Place easily at Kempton Park in the second of eight starts in 1997, but did not add to that tally.
Moyglare Stud have a substantial team again in training with Dermot Weld, and one of these, Key Provider, looks a nap selection in the Milltown Handicap.
He was only mildly fancied on his first start of the year at Naas when taking on Eymir, a stylish winner of his previous race at Gowran Park when she had made all the running under top weight of 9 st 10 lb.
Forcing tactics were again adopted at Naas, but Key Provider pounced late to win by a shorthead. The extra two furlongs will be a plus in the Milltown Handicap.
John Oxx should be on the mark with Keriyoun (2.35) and Nicola Bella (4.05).
The 1998/99 Irish National Hunt Season begins at Tralee this afternoon and the highlights include Frances Crowley taking over the jumpers from her brother-inlaw, Aidan O'Brien, and the reigning amateur champion, Ruby Walsh, having his first rides as a professional.
Crowley has runners in all seven races, and if Colm's Rock puts in a clear round he can win the Munster Beginners Chase in the hands of Norman Williamson.
Ruby Walsh has four rides, and with Aglish Pride (3.15), who in the normal maiden hurdle would be giving weight to those that did not win on the flat, now meeting them at level weights, he could start his new career as he intends to go on - in the winner's enclosure.
