Alive set for return to action Alive Alive Oh finally makes her eagerly-awaited return to action as she faces seven opponents in the Lanwades Stud Blandford Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday. Tommy Stack's filly looked a force to be reckoned with in winning her first two starts of the campaign at Cork and Navan, but it has proved a summer of frustration for her connections since. First the Duke Of Marmalade filly was withdrawn from the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot on account of the fast ground, then she was pulled out of the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh after coming into season. Her defection from July's Irish Oaks because of unsuitable conditions brought up the hat-trick of missed opportunities and she has since been saved for an autumn campaign, kicking off with this 10-furlong Group Two event. Stack's son and assistant, Fozzy, said: "She seems well and we're happy with her. It's great to get her out. Asked whether conditions looked to be coming in her favour, Stack said: "It looks to be coming that way now." Alive Alive Oh will have to be on her game if she is to make a winning comeback, with each of her rivals rated in excess of 100. Lady Cecil's Hot Snap, the William Muir-trained Purr Along and Hughie Morrison's consistent Shirocco Star all make the journey from Britain. Eddie Lynam's Pearl Of Africa has won three races this year and ran arguably a career-best when third in the Dance Design Stakes a fortnight ago. Lynam said: "It's looks a very good race, as you would expect for a Group Two, but our filly is in good form. "I think Hot Snap is probably the one we all have to beat. "If we can finish in the first three we'd be delighted." The Johnny Murtagh-trained Belle De Crecy turns out just a week after finishing fourth in the Enterprise Stakes at Leopardstown. Murtagh told Irishhorse.tv: "She ran well last week in a tough race against the boys. It's not going to be much easier this week, but it's for fillies and mares only. "She came out of the race well and I'd like to see a bit of ease in the ground. "She's been running on firm ground all year and doing it well. It takes a bit out of her as she puts so much effort into it." The line-up is completed by Dermot Weld's Princess Highway and the Aidan O'Brien-trained Magical Dream.
