Midnight Soprano on song

Five-year-old mare Midnight Soprano continued her remarkable rate of progress when getting the better of Ascot Gold Cup candidate Saddler’s Rock and odds-on favourite Unaccompanied in the Listed Seamus & Rosemary McGrath Saval Beg Stakes in Leopardstown last night.

After British raider Eternal Heart made the running, in ground which deteriorated through the day to ‘Heavy’, the ‘Savael Beg, developed into something of a sprint up the straight and saw the rapidly improving Midnight Soprano, ridden by Chris Hayes, hold Saddler’s Rock by a half-length with Unaccompanied a length away third. The result remained unchanged after a Stewards Enquiry.

A delighted Paul Deegan stated: “She’s a special mare and I still don’t know how good she is. Like her sister (Celtic Soprano), she’s really light-framed and does absolutely nothing at home. But she has a bit of class about her and keeps improving.