RACING: It's hard to believe Kieren Fallon isn't feeling the pressure of being embroiled in a race-fixing scandal that has already resulted in him being banned from riding in Britain but there was little evidence of it at the Curragh yesterday where he guided Alexandrova to a hugely popular success in the Darley Irish Oaks.

Fallon received a tumultuous reception from a 7,700-strong crowd that was no doubt partially influenced by the odds-on favourite's success but also by widespread affection for the beleaguered Co Clare-born jockey.

"It helps. You need all this when things are not going very well," admitted Fallon who last week had his appeal against a Horseracing Regulatory Authority decision to ban him from riding in the UK turned down.

The 41-year-old former champion jockey has pledged to fight that decision "in the High Court and beyond" but there were no signs yesterday of the stress of that legal headache, or of being charged by City Of London police in an alleged race-fixing scandal, affecting his performances in the saddle.

Instead he gave a nerveless display on board Alexandrova who raced from last to first to beat Scottish Stage by four lengths, with Rising Cross a length further back in third, and became just the 11th filly to complete the Epsom-Irish Oaks double.

It was a 12th Irish classic victory for Aidan O'Brien but a first in the Oaks for the champion trainer who once again voiced his support for Coolmore Stud's retained rider.

"It's brilliant for Kieren. The thing is for him to keep focused and to keep his belief. Everyone is behind him, and we hope this thing passes over. He gave that filly an unbelievably cool ride. We are lucky to have him over here riding," O'Brien said.

Even if the focus was on Fallon, there was no denying the impressive nature of Alexandrova's victory and it was enough for some bookmakers to introduce her as low as 10 to 1 into the ante-post betting for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in October.

"She has an unbelievable gear change. Her nought to 60 is unbelievable, so rapid," said O'Brien who nominated next month's Yorkshire Oaks as the John Magnier-owned filly's next target.

Fallon supporters, however, had to settle for second place when his other odds-on favourite of the day, the newcomer Red Rock Canyon, was beaten a neck by Teofilio in the seven-furlong maiden.