Alexandrova continues to be a red-hot favourite to fill in a rare classic blank for her trainer Aidan O'Brien in Sunday's Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh.
Despite the presence of the French Oaks heroine Confidential Lady among the 13 entries remaining in the race, it is Alexandrova who dominates the betting and is as low as 2 to 5 to add to her six-length demolition of the Epsom Oaks field last month.
That was a third success in the Epsom classic for O'Brien, who completed a clean sweep of the British classic races when Virginia Waters landed last year's 1,000 Guineas.
However, although Dylan Thomas was an 11th home classic winner in the Derby at the start of this month, both the Oaks and the St Leger at the Curragh have so far managed to elude the champion trainer.
Quarter Moon in 2002 is the nearest O'Brien has come to landing the Oaks but that filly was denied by the 33 to 1 outsider Margarula.
However, the bookmakers appear to believe this year's renewal is a closed book already and Paddy Power go as short as 2 to 5 about Alexandrova filling in that rare Group One gap for Ballydoyle.
However, the chances of Confidential Lady attempting a mile and a half for the first time will have increased yesterday after an encouraging ground report from the Curragh for the filly's owners, the Cheveley Park Stud.
They had been fearful of testing conditions but the Curragh manager Paul Hensey said yesterday: "The forecast is for dry weather and then for sunny spells over the weekend.
"We have been watering since Monday and if the forecast is correct we will continue until Friday. I would imagine we will end up good or good to firm, certainly not slower than that. It won't be like it was in the 1,000 Guineas."
The Ballydoyle team have a total of seven entries for the Dubai Duty Free Anglesey Stakes, including both the Railway winner Holy Roman Emperor and the impressive six-length scorer Admiralofthefleet, who are both prominent in the betting for next year's 2,000 Guineas.
O'Brien will be in Group One action before Sunday as both Mountain and Puerto Rico are among the 10-strong field for tomorrow evening's Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp.
Scorpion landed the Bastille Day highlight for O'Brien and Kieren Fallon last year and the controversial jockey will team up with Mountain this time, leaving Colm O'Donoghue to ride Puerto Rico. Both horses ran unplaced in the Irish Derby last time.
O'Brien has also left the French Guineas runner-up Marcus Andronicus in tomorrow's Darley July Cup at Newmarket. Both Stravinsky and Mozart have won the Group One six-furlong championship for the trainer in the past.
Fallon is scheduled to be in action at Gowran this evening and he should be able to make a quick mark with the David Wachman-trained filly Striking in the opening seven-furlong maiden.
Striking made a promising debut when third to Addicted at the Curragh over the Derby weekend and looks a tough nut for the newcomer Danak to crack.
Another interesting runner at the Co Kilkenny track will be Barati in the maiden hurdle. The ex-John Oxx horse was third in the 2004 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot but has not actually won a race since his debut in April of that same year.
He will, however, rarely get a better chance than this.
Pat Smullen goes north to Downpatrick, where the course and distance winner Otavi looks a good ride in the 11-furlong handicap while Lagniappe can add to a Bellewstown success last week.
Paddy Power: 2-5 Alexandrova, 5 Scottish Stage, 7 Confidential Lady & Mont Etoile, 8 Short Skirt, 16 Rising Cross, 20 Bar.
Boylesports: 4-9 Alexandrova, 5 Scottish Stage, 6 Confidential Lady, 8 Short Skirt & Mont Etoile, 14 Rising Cross, 20 Arosa, 25 Bar.
