Belle back in winners enclosure on return to chasing

Indie Belle pulled away in good style to run out a convincing winner of the WKD Handicap Chase at Downpatrick.

Robert Widger 's charge tracked the front-runner Agirlcalledchloe in the two-mile-three contest before joining that rival over the second last.

Aidan Kelly sent his mount on after the final fence and the Flemensfirth mare galloped on strongly up the hill to record a nine length win.

The 7/2 winner was recording a third career success and was returning to fences having been in action over timber recently.

Widger said: "She's very well-bred. She is actually out of a mare, Layla Joan, who was rated over 140.

"The last time she ran over fences was in Tramore when Davy Russell won on her in a beginners' chase.

"We have been trying over hurdles and, in fairness, she was unlucky two days in Navan and then she went to Leopardstown and was just leaning right.

"We said we would go back right-handed and go back over fences and try and win a race.

"The training is going grand, we only have two horses to run, two point-to-pointers and after that it is all half-bred horses.

"We will have fun with her. She is consistent the whole time, she has won two (this season) and probably unlucky not to win another one."

Kelly added: "To ride the winner in Cheltenham was unreal now, it still hasn't kicked in.

"I was kind of surprised I got the ride on this one after a ride I gave her in Navan one day.

"All down to Robert now, he has done a great job with her.”

(Quotes by Michael Graham)