AFTER losing a meeting in April due to a waterlogged track, Ballinrobe got its 2026 season under way on Friday with an eight-race flat card that saw Shane Foley and Billy Lee record doubles.

Lee was aboard the Paddy Twomey-trained Trojan Fighter (13/8 favourite), who got off the mark in the Boyle Sports Home Of Early Payout Maiden. Tackling a trip just short of a mile and five furlongs, the Robert Moran-owned Ulysses colt settled matters on the approach to the straight to readily account for 11-year-old Ballyadam by seven lengths.

Lee commented: “Stepping up in trip from a mile and a quarter was always going to suit him and I got a nice lead. He’s still babyish and immature.

“We’ll see what the handicapper does. Something like the Ulster Derby might suit him, or a race like the King George Cup at Leopardstown.”

Success

Lee earlier partnered the Ken Condon-trained Marmeladova (12/1) to an easy success in the SIS Supporting Irish Racing Maiden.

Owned by the Newell family’s Readsland Racing, the daughter of Inns Of Court raced in mid-division and quickened clear of her rivals in the straight to score by six and a half lengths.

“Being Ballinrobe, I said to Ken that I’d be positive, but looking back at her races, her best runs were when she was dropped in,” Lee explained. “There’s no reason to think that she won’t be competitive in a handicap.”

JESSICA Harrington’s Glamazon (5/2 joint-favourite) was Shane Foley’s first winner of the evening, when she got the better of Maxminelli after a good tussle in the Brian Forkan Construction Maiden over an extended nine furlongs.

Owned by the Glamour & Glory Syndicate, the daughter of Belardo wore cheekpieces for the first time and got home by a neck in a race restricted to those rated no higher than 70.

“She had a good look around - there’s plenty to see around here - but she’d been knocking on the door and deserved to get her head in front,” Foley said.

Off the mark

Foley completed his brace when Tero d’Rosa (6/1) won the McGrath Limestone Works Handicap for Ross O’Sullivan and the trainer’s own racing syndicate.

The Galileo Chrome gelding raced handily over the extended nine furlongs and got first run on short-priced favourite Majestic King to account for that rival by three-parts of a length. “We nicked a couple of lengths on the bend into the straight and probably just had a better run around than the favourite,” Foley reported.

“He’ll probably go a bit further and he’ll jump a hurdle in time, too.”

Maiden win

Personified (5/2) was another to get off the mark, as Joseph O’Brien’s filly landed the opening Harrington Concrete & Quarries Optional Claiming Race under Ronan Whelan.

Owned by Mrs John Magnier and the trainer’s mother Anne-Marie, the Starspangledbanner filly came from off the pace to foil stablemate Teologia by two and three-quarter lengths, with both having been entered not to be claimed.

“It’s nice to get a bracket for her,” said Whelan of the half-sister to Dewhurst winner Beethoven.

“Stepping up in trip on nicer ground really suited her, and I think a mile and a quarter on a stiff track might bring about a bit more improvement.”

DESPITE having won his previous start at Navan, Satono Chevalier went off at 25/1 for the concluding KOG Logistics Handicap and defied a drift in the market to follow up under Reese Holohan. Never far from the pace, the eight-year-old challenged in the straight and forged clear to a two-length victory.

Winning owner/trainer Michael Flannery said: “There’s a local man who trains near here called Michael Flannery, but I’m based in Askeaton, Co Limerick. This was his first run for me and we might head to Listowel with him at the end of the month.”

Maurice Ahern was another successful owner/trainer on the card, with Lough Leane (9/2) landing the Burleigh Accountancy Group Handicap under Megan Telford Kelly. The Cityscape gelding took a keen hold racing in rear, but progressed to lead before the straight to score by two and a half lengths.

Ahern said: “It’s my first winner since moving to the Curragh. I had problems with rapeseed at my previous yard in Mallow, so I’m in a yard near Kildangan Stud at the moment.”

Better known as a point-to-point handler, Debbie Cody sent out her first winner under rules when A Pretty Penny (13/2) made most under Julian Pietropaolo in the MG Plant Sales Handicap over the extended nine furlongs. Owned by husband Patrick, the winner accounted for Accelereight by two and a quarter lengths.

With a delighted Cody leading up, Pietropaolo reported: “All she does is keep galloping and, on what she did there, she’ll stay further. It’s great to get it for really good people.”