Bellaphina pounces to gain third win

The John Kinsella-trained Bellaphina came with a well-timed charge to land the spoils in the €20,000 fillies handicap at Fairyhouse.

James Ryan produced the James Garfield filly with a strong surge to get to the front inside the final furlong and record a three-parts-of-a-length win over Byzantine Empress

The 8/1 winner was recording her third career victory and Kinsella said:-

“Better ground today helped and he didn't get there as soon. He didn't know her the last day, when she gets to the front she stops.

“He played it really well today and she quickened up nicely.

“She won a maiden first time out as a three-year-old and won a premier handicap in the Curragh. Things didn't go her way from there on in, with ground and different things.

“She pulled a muscle early this year and was off for eight weeks. She has her first run back in July and has only had 12 races in her whole life.

“We think a lot of her and hopefully she can still improve. The tongue-tie on today might have helped her a little bit.

“We just wanted to get today out of the way and see. We'll make a plan after seeing if she's alright in the morning.”