held up in touch early, closer in 4th at 3rd, travelling well on inner entering straight, good headway from 2 out, improved to lead at last, maintained small lead unextended inside final furlong, easily
tracked leader in 2nd, improved to lead 2 out, ridden and headed at last, kept on under pressure in 2nd inside final furlong, not trouble easy winner
led, not fluent at 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th, ridden entering straight, headed 2 out, soon no impression in 4th
held up in touch in rear, ridden in last 4 out, soon no impression
held up in touch in rear, not fluent at 3rd, slight mistake 4th, progress and pushed along on outer entering straight, pushed along in close enough in 4th when fell 2 out
tracked leaders in 3rd, pushed along entering straight, ridden in 3rd 2 out, no impression on leaders run-in, kept on same pace
CONCERTISTA, beaten a short-head on her debut for Willie Mullins in the Dawn Run at Cheltenham last year, took her time to warm up in her second season for the yard but went back for another crack at the same race in March and gained a very impressive victory. She should kick on this campaign but will need to be somewhere near her best to see off Minella Melody. Henry De Bromhead's mare started favourite for the Dawn Run after winning her first three races over timber but pulled too hard and was soon done with. She'll be better for her run at Galway last month and looks a real threat. Queens Brook, placed in the championship bumper at Cheltenham, scrambled home in a maiden hurdle here but ran much better when narrowly beaten in a Down Royal Grade 3 and though the remaining trio will need to improve there's every reason to believe they can do so.
Concertista (FR) 9-2 (11-2) Held up in mid-division, headway home bend, led before last, drew clear flat, impressive, won at Cheltenham 2m 1f (1) sft in Mar beating Dolcita (11-2) by 12l, 22 ran.
Minella Melody (IRE) 13-8 (11-2) Led, pressed after 3 out, joined 2 out, soon ridden, headed before last, no extra and kept on same pace, 2nd of 4, 4 3/4l behind Beacon Edge (11-6) at Galway 2m 5f (1) sft in Oct.
Carrigeen Lotus (IRE) 5-2 (11-9) Led, joined 2 out, ridden after last, narrow lead close home, all out, won at Galway 2m mdn sft in Oct beating Tucanae (11-9) by nk, 11 ran.
Etincelle Lioterie (FR) 12-1 (10-11) Settled mid-division, 4th halfway, fell 3 out, at Limerick 2m 5f lst (1) sft in Oct.
Place Des Vosges (IRE) 4-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, headway 3 out, 3rd and pecked 2 out, ridden to challenge last, soon led and kept on well, won at Thurles 2m mdn Yielding - Soft in Nov beating Botani (11-9) by 3/4l, 13 ran.
Queens Brook (IRE) 6-5fav (10-12) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, challenged 3 out, soon pushed along and on terms, ridden and led last, strongly pressed final 75 yards, kept on same pace, headed final strides, 2nd of 8, hd behind Skyace (11-2) at Down Royal 2m (1) Yielding - Soft in Oct.
