1.01 2m. 3f. 110yds. 6 Declared. Irish Stallion Farms EBF (M) Hdle (Grade 2) of €80,000.00 4-y-o plus
1st - €48,000.00 2nd - €16,000.00 3rd - €8,000.00 4th - €4,000.00 5th - €2,400.00 6th - €1,600.00
FormscanBy Mark Nunan - So impressive in the mares’ novice hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival when last seen, CONCERTISTA gets the vote to win for the first time on Irish soil. Just touched off in the corresponding race at Cheltenham a year earlier, when making her hurdling debut, she hasn’t won over this trip but she bounded up the hill in March so it’s hard to see that being a problem. Minella Melody was too keen and dropped out of contention behind the selection at Cheltenham but is a far better mare than that. She won her first three over hurdles, stays well and should benefit from having had a recent run when second to a smart sort in Beacon Edge at Galway. Cheltenham bumper third Queens Brook made a winning start over hurdles at this track last month and, along with several rivals, got racing from too far out when mugged late by an outsider at Down Royal. She’s better than that bare form and will probably be ridden with more restraint on this occasion.
A hurdle for four years old and upwards mares only that are EBF eligible and that have not won a hurdle race before 5th May, 2019Weights - 4-y-o 10st 12lbs 5-y-o and up 11st 2lbsPenalties - Penalties (handicaps excluded) - Winner of three hurdle races or a Grade 3 hurdle race 3lb extra Of two Grade 3 hurdle races or of a Grade 2 hurdle race 5lb extra Of a Grade 1 hurdle race 7lb extra