Beach Belle impresses in opener of campaign

A daughter of high class sire Invincible Spirit, out of Beach Bunny, who was 'short-headed' in the 2009 Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes, Beach Belle is bred to be good and she certainly looked the part when landing the opening Tally Ho Stud European Breeders Fund Maiden at the Curragh.

Chris Hayes chased the pace on Lady O'Reilly and Kevin Prendergast's representative. The 7/2 shot led inside the final furlong before going on to defeat Bwana by two lengths. The Jim Bolger-trained favourite Alertness could manage no better than fourth place.

Prendergast remarked: "She's quite smart although I don't know how she'll do when the ground dries out a bit.

"She's been quite good from the first bit of work she's done.

"She may run in the Marble Hill Stakes back here but I'll have to discuss it with the owner." (AM & EM)