Between injury and riding abroad, Fran Berry hasn't got his name on the score-sheet in Ireland since early last September but the Kildare man returned to the number one berth in style when Alive Alive Oh bolted-up in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Fillies Maiden at Cork.

Berry exuded confidence on the well-backed 8/15 shot (from 4/5 on track, reportedly as big as 2/1 this morning). He gave the Duke Of Marmalade filly a waiting ride, she progressed stylishly on the outer in the final quarter mile before moving on from over a furlong out for an easy four and a half length win.

Tommy Stack trains Alive Alive Oh for Sue-Ann Foley (arrived by helicopter with company including her father J P McManus). Stack's son Fozzy said: "She's a nice filly and she's a lot stronger this year. We won this race before with Lolly For Dolly. If she turns out half as good as her she'll do.

"She may not have beaten a whole lot but she couldn't have done it any better.

"She may go for the Salsabil Stakes at Navan as stamina shouldn't be a problem for her." (AM & EM)