Alive Oh nearing best for Dance Design Fozzy Stack believes Alive Alive Oh is beginning to return to her best form ahead of the Xtravision & HMV Supporting Irish Autism Action Dance Design Fillies Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday. The four-year-old looked destined for the top following a smart display in the Salsabil Stakes at Navan in May of last year, but little has gone right for the talented filly since. Her first three starts in 2014 suggested her best days may be behind her, but connections persevered and were rewarded with a far more encouraging display at Gowran Park earlier this month, with Alive Alive Oh finishing a clear second behind Carla Bianca in the Hurry Harriet Stakes. She is joined by stable companion Waltzing Matilda in this weekend's nine-furlong Group Three, and Fozzy Stack, son and assistant to his father Tommy, is hopeful both can make their presence felt. He said: "Hopefully the two of them will run well. Alive Alive Oh ran her best race for a while the other day, so hopefully she's started to turn to the corner. "Waltzing Matilda has been running well all year and on form you'd have to side with her out of the two, but the other filly does seem to be coming back to herself." The George Kent-trained Shanooan won at the Curragh on her penultimate start but was unable to make an impact in more testing conditions at Cork last time, and the trainer is hoping the rain stays away. He said: "All the Listed and Group Three races in Ireland are very competitive and we're on the hunt for black type as she has a good pedigree. "She likes the Curragh and the forecast is good, so hopefully she'll get some decent ground as that's what she needs. "The ground was much too soft for her in Cork the last day. We nearly didn't run her, but there were a few non-runners and our hand was forced to a certain extent. We won't run her on that ground again. "To be placed this weekend she's going to have to find a few pounds, so we're hoping she can do that." Dermot Weld saddles the aforementioned Carla Bianca and also Afternoon Sunlight, with stable jockey Pat Smullen siding with the former. Aidan O'Brien is also double-handed, with Beyond Brilliance and Palace in the mix. Shay Barry saddles the consistent Akira, while Mick Halford runs Mizzava and Eddie Lynam is represented by Pearl Of Africa.
