Smullen doubles-up on Queen

After winning the first on Alishan Pat Smullen doubled-up aboard Queen Alphabet in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.

A four time winner under National Hunt rules, Queen Alphabet was recording her first success on the level today.

Third and second on her last two starts at Dundalk, the Peter Fahey trained seven-year-old was sent off the 2/1 favourite (drifted from 6/4) this evening in the colours of the Carmel Ennis.

Prominent throughout, she had a ding-dong battle with the front-running Grey Sky Blue from the two furlong pole, with just a neck separating them at the line.

Grey Sky Blue was returned at 4/1 under Chris Hayes for Andy Oliver.

The well-backed Not A Whisper was three and a quarter lengths back in third after she broke slowly from the stalls.

The Aidan Howard trained five-year-old was a big as 14/1 last night, opening on-course at 7/2 before going off the 11/4 second favourite under Leigh Roche.

Just a head separated the first and second when they finished second and third behind Roconga at Dundalk last month.

Peter Fahey said afterwards: "She has a good cruising speed and the drying ground helped. She handled Dundalk well, and has plenty of options.

"She didn't get into the Swinton Hurdle (at Haydock) last Saturday, so she came here instead.

"She has a lovely pedigree and might be covered now."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee