Ingabelle target for Chantez after stylish maiden win

Chantez showed a smart turn of foot to land the opening fillies' maiden at Leopardstown in fine style for Ger Lyons.

Colin Keane tracked the leaders on the 5/6 favourite in the seven-furlong contest before asking her to quicken a furlong-and-a-half from home.

The Wootton Bassett filly soon hit the front and settled matters, going on to record a cosy three-length success over Indigo Dream

Chantez had lost out by a head to Exactly on her debut over course and distance last month.

Lyons said afterwards:- “That was nice. I loved her first run here as they quickened twice and I said that was a bit above the ordinary as a maiden.

“I was tempted to go to the Curragh the last day but Red Letter's form was there so we bypassed that and came back here, to the track she had handled, with a view to the Ingabelle Stakes. That is a race that has been very lucky for us.

“She did exactly what we thought she'd do.

“She shouldn't be running as she's so light and immature. She's just so not there yet.

“It's like Dublin buses. We had a load of horses last year and now, all of a sudden, every filly I have is a nice filly. We're just lucky and it's great.

“She's good and any other year she'd be your best one.

“I love having a second bite at a maiden. You get disappointed not winning for a minute but then you walk away and say 'lovely, another maiden, and I don't have to go to a stakes race'.

“Now she's had two runs and I have an Ingabelle horse, so happy days.”