Indie Belle wins in unfortunate circumstances

There was a sad conclusion to Punchestown's Watch Racing TV In Stunning HD Handicap Hurdle (div II) today as challenging The Dreams Alive suffered a fatal final flight fall in a race won by Indie Belle

Indie Belle was being strongly pressed by The Dreams Alive when she fell heavily at the last and while jockey Kieran Callaghan was unharmed, the mare suffered a fatal injury.

Following the race, Indie Belle's trainer Widger commented “she has been consistent in that grade and was going to get her chance at some stage. I thought she mightn't like the ground but Darragh said she loved it.

“We'll look for something else at the same level. If she stays in that grade she has a chance but if she goes out of that grade she might struggle a bit.”

It was winning jockey Darragh O'Keeffe's 51st success this season, having notched a first half-century at Clonmel last week.

Quotes from Gary Carson