Midnight Soprano pictured winning her maiden at Wexford in July 2010© Photo Healy Racing
Midnight Soprano at 10/3 (backed from 5/1 this morning) completed a hat-trick of wins in the final race at the Curragh this afternoon, a handicap over 1m 4f, for trainer Paul Deegan with seven pound claimer Marc Monaghan aboard.
The winning 5yo daughter of Celtic Swing won a valuable fillies handicap at Navan in October of last year at 25/1 before following up on her first start this season at Gowran earlier this month when sent off the 11/4 favourite.
Having tracked the leaders early on she was fifth after halfway. She was pushed along entering the straight and was ridden into the lead over a furlong from home.
She soon asserted from there and kept on well to score by three parts of a length at the line from the Gordon Elliott trained 11/4 favourite Plan A back in second under Declan McDonogh.
Paddy the Celeb ran well to take third a further three parts of a length back at 12/1 under Shane Foley for Mick Halford.
Winning trainer Paul Deegan said afterwards: "She is a smashing mare and I think we are a long way from the bottom of her. We will see what the handicapper does now.
"I was almost going to pull her out because of the ground and the step back up in trip but she got away with it.
"Marc (winning rider Marc Monaghan) is some value for his claim. He is as cool as a breeze and he is going to be top class."
The win was extra sweet for winning rider Marc Monaghan as his father James owns and bred the winner.
