Alegranza upset odds-on favourite Ishiguru when taking the five-furlong Tipperary Race last night to initiate a double for Johnny Murtagh.

The Declan Gillespie-trained filly bounced out of stall one and proceeded to make all to score by seven lengths. "She is a nice filly, and is going the right way. David Wachman (who trained her last year) said she could be Group class, and he may be right," said Gillespie afterwards.

Aidan O'Brien was not too despondent about runner-up Ishiguru, saying: "It was his first run of the year and he got a bit tired. We will see how he comes out of this race, but at this stage Royal Ascot is still the plan."

Murtagh completed his double half-an-hour later over the same sprint track aboard Gossie Madera in the Excel Handicap.

O'Brien and Michael Kinane gained some compensation for Ishiguru's defeat when Darwin took the Aidan O'Leary Memorial Race in convincing fashion. The uneasy 1 to 2 favourite, who competed in Group One company on his previous three starts, made all to beat Destorm by three lengths. "He's a nice mover and good ground is very important for him," said O'Brien, who nominated the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot as a likely target.