Don wins as Plate hopefuls fail to make frame

Favourite, Don Leone saw it out best to take the opening Mike Cronin Readymix Ltd. In Association With Thermohouse Maiden under Seamie Heffernan at Killarney.

The Montjeu gelding was under pressure disputing the lead from five furlongs out and he looked an unlikely winner in third coming to the final furlong as O'Bella Ballerina and High Magic battled it out. However the victorious 7/4 chance led again about 100 yards out and he went on to score by a length and a quarter for Ballydoyle.

Galway Plate entry Northern Alliance finished eleven lengths off them in fourth whilst fellow Ballybrit hopeful Montero faded after looking promising up to the half mile pole.

His trainer, Dessie Hughes said: "He needed the run. They just done him for speed around that bottom bend. He doesn't look too badly in in the Plate but he'll need quick ground."