Classy Concertista advertises Cheltenham Festival claims with decisive success

Tuesday: Limerick

Concertista remains the 5-2 favourite for the Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival with the sponsors after registering a decisive success in the Grade 2 BoyleSports Irish EBF Dawn Run Mares Novice Chase.

The main body of the field gave plenty of rope to the front-running Kitty Galore, but the winner and runner-up Darrens Hope reeled her in before the second-last.

Once the Willie Mullins-trained Concertista was asked to go and win her race between the final two fences she picked up quite decisively.

It was a first try over the 2m6½f trip for the former Cheltenham Festival winner, and the manner of her victory could open up more opportunities for her.

Concertista after landing the Grade 2 mares novice chase at Limerick

Rider Sean O'Keeffe said: "She's a very classy mare. I was very happy with her jumping today, it has come forward a lot from Cork. That was a very nice performance.

"At the top of the hill the leader had a good lead on us but my mare was picking up loads and by the time we came to the straight I knew we were going to pick her off. Her class shone through and hopefully she can go on again from this."

The race was marred by the fatal fall of Sayce Gold at the first fence in the straight.

O'Keeffe completed a double on the day when landing the 3m handicap hurdle on 5-2 favourite Itsnotinit for Paul Nolan.

Spyglass saves day for De Bromhead

The defeat of A Plus Tard in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown may have been a disappointment for Henry de Bromhead, but there was some compensation for the stable when Spyglass Hill landed the competitive Grade B Tim Duggan Memorial Handicap Chase under a fine, positive ride from Hugh Morgan.

Spyglass Hill was last seen unseating Morgan at the Canal Turn when in front in the Grand Sefton Chase at Aintree, but this time the partnership managed to remain intact throughout and he found plenty from the front to hold off the persistent challenge of Rebel Gold by half a length.

Morgan said: "He was class there and I would especially like to thank the owner, Niall O'Leary, for sticking with me after Aintree. We were unlucky at Aintree and I was fairly sick after it.

Spyglass Hill: rebounded after falling at Aintree last time outCredit: Healy Racing

"I felt I was still cantering even though it was a long way out. He jumped well out there today, for him he was electric and he deserved to win a big one."

You get the impression the rider would love to get another shot over the big Aintree fences on this horse.

Results, replays and analysis

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