Belle lunges late to score again

Getabelle lunged late in a cracking finish to the mares handicap hurdle at Sligo. Sayitfirst looked to have made a decisive move when kicking a few lengths clear after the third last but the distress signals started to go out on the run-in.

Brian Hayes got a great tune from Getabelle in the closing stages as the Liam Cusack-trained mare got up close home to record a neck success in the two-mile-one contest.

The 10/3 favourite was following up on her win at Cork 12 days ago.

Cusack said:"Nothing seemed to be going right early on. She made a few mistakes, probably because she wasn't travelling, and I was wondering if maybe the trip was a bit short for her, but there's only one place to be in front and that's the winning post.

"I declared her on yielding ground because she had won on something similar at Cork, and after I walked the track I rang the owner who's based in Boston and said that we'd take our chance.

"She seemed in good form after Cork and battled well. I thought Brian gave her a brilliant ride.

"She's been busy and has done well for us so we might put her away until the spring, she probably doesn't want deep winter ground."

(Quotes by Mark Nunan)