Liz Doyle was full of praise for jockey Sean Flanagan after La Bella Vida landed the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase at Thurles.

The daughter of Westerner won twice over hurdles earlier this year including a maiden at this venue, and jumped well in this 2m2f event.

The 11/4 chance was just pushed out on the run-in to beat 6/5 favourite Magic Of Light who received a hefty bump from a rival when disputing the lead at the fourth last.

A length and a quarter separated the pair at the line with Miss Sassie who was on the heels of the leaders when making a mistake at the penultimate fence, a further six and a half lengths back in third.

Ms Doyle said, "It was a beautiful ride. They went too fast and the jockey nipped into the inside at the top of the hill and that probably won it for him. Jessie's mare (Magic Of Light) was just staying on again after the last, but Sean had done everything, jumped beautifully to have enough up his sleeve after the last.

"For a small mare she has that bounce over fences and she is as brave as a lion. We'll tip away over fences for the time being.

"She ran at Sligo the last day because there were just five runners and it was a case of picking up prizemoney for her but she is a good ground mare and we'll be looking at Thurles and Punchestown with her but she is more a summer mare.

"She has now won three in the calendar year and for a mare who cost 500 euro at Goresbridge as a foal, she has given us great fun. She is a pleasure to train and that was the most beautiful ride - the jockey won that, nobody else."

(TW & AM)