Soprano calls Saval tune

Saddler's Rock: Made a fine return to action

Midnight Soprano won the Seamus & Rosemary McGrath Memorial Saval Beg Stakes at Leopardstown.

There was a significantly reduced field for the prestigious 14 furlong Listed contest with Bob Le Beau, Sense Of Purpose, Royal Diamond and Steps To Freedom all being withdrawn.

As a result, Unaccompanied was sent off as an odds-on favourite on the back of her impressive run behind last year's winner of this race, Fame And Glory, at Navan last month.

The field more or less raced in indian file for much of the race with British raider Eternal Heart taking the field along.

Unaccompanied crept closer but Chris Hayes shadowed the mare's every move aboard Midnight Soprano and edged up on her outside as the field moved towards the home turn.

Sprint Finish

The race turned into something of a sprint in the straight with Midnight Soprano showing the better turn of foot of the leading pair but Saddler's Rock, who was conceding 10lbs to the two mares, gradually made ground from off the pace to claw his way into contention.

Last year's Doncaster Cup hero ran a big race on his return ahead of a tilt at the Ascot Gold Cup prep but he couldn't peg back Paul Deegan's runner who had half a length to spare at the line.

The Celtic Swing mare had jinked a little close home with Hayes doing a grand job to straighten her out to land a fifth successive contest and a first in Pattern company although the pair had to survive a stewards' inquiry.