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Ballycorus news and views

Alanza (left) is hot favourite for tonight's Ballycorus StakesAlanza (left) is hot favourite for tonight's Ballycorus Stakes
© Photo Healy Racing

Connections of Rodrigo De Torres hope to strike while the iron is hot in the Ballycorus Stakes at Leopardstown on Thursday.

The five-year-old landed his first win for more than two years when defeating Invisible Man at Nottingham last week and is said to be in great shape ahead of this Group Three test.

"We were delighted with him last week and he's come out of the race in great form," said trainer Elaine Burke's husband and assistant, Karl.

"He looks very well. Obviously it's a little bit quick and a bit of an after-thought, but the race has broken up a bit and any rain would be a bonus.

"More rain the better for us and if he can reproduce last week's running he could go very well."

Ger Lyons will have one eye on the weather for One Spirit, who has shown decent form in both her starts this campaign. After finishing second to Emulous in a Group Three at the Curragh, she landed a Listed race at Naas but needs drying ground to be at her best.

"It's very ground dependent for her. She needs good and faster, she's a good to firm horse," said Lyons.

"We'd be concerned if there was rain. When we took her to Naas we thought we might not run her but we did and we just got away with it." Alanza was half a length behind One Spirit in third place last time and her trainer John Oxx expects a bold show if the rain stays away.

"She ran well at the Curragh recently in a Group Three behind Emulous, who's a good filly. Hopefully that race has done her good," said Oxx.

"The big factor will be the weather. The ground is good at the moment. It will take a bit of rain before it turns soft.

"There is rain forecast but hopefully it will not come until later in the evening.

"If the ground remains good it will be a big factor for her. Seven furlongs is a good distance for her.

"She has a pretty good chance but has an outside draw which isn't great, but she's top-rated in the race."