Bella prevails in apprentice thriller Bella Isabella had to survive a stewards enquiry after prevailing in a ding-dong finish to the Boyle Sports Apprentice Handicap at Leopardstown. The successful grey and Playin Cool claimed front-runner Great Mover in the closing stages of the seven-furlong contest. There was nothing between the pair late on with 9/1 shot Bella Isabella just having her head down at the right time to secure a nose victory under Sam Coen. The pair did come together a few times inside the final furlong but the stewards decided that the contact hadn’t affected the result. It was a second career victory for the Moyglare-owned filly, who had won a Cork maiden in April of last year. She was stepping forward significantly on her comeback run at Naas last month, when she had weakened in the closing stages. "She did that well and got a very good ride from Sam," said winning trainer Dermot Weld. "The second horse just came over a little bit to join her and Sam had run straight. Then it was kind of six of one, half a dozen of the other just going to the line, if you know what I mean, in that testing ground. She battled very well and I'm delighted to win with her. "There is a hundred grand handicap in Cork, over that distance, in a few weeks' time and I think that's where she'll run next." (Quotes by John O'Riordan)
