TAKEACHANCEJIMMY is developing into something of a standing dish at Ballinrobe’s pre-Galway flat fixture and for the second year in succession he landed the featured Get Galway Ready With Tote.ie Handicap over just short of 10 furlongs.

Also a runner-up in this race in 2019, the eight-year-old was produced in great shape by Nigel Slevin to win the seventh race of his career and he has now won at least once in each of the five seasons that he has raced in.

Jamie Powell’s mount had plenty to do from the rear of the field with half a mile to run but began to move forward with purpose on the approach to the straight. After straightening up, Takeachancejimmy finished out in great style and he swept by Laeleps deep inside the last furlong to score by a length and a quarter.

“He likes the track. He can hug the inner as there’s never that many runners. Jamie had to go to Plan B and wait for it to happen in front of him but the race worked out well for him,” said Slevin, who trains the winner for Thomas Connolly.

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Beer With The Boys (11/4), who was denied a victory here last month by Pike County, enjoyed a deserved change in fortune in the Tote-sponsored 47-65-rated handicap over an extended mile and a half.

The Charlie Moore-trained seven-year-old overcame a wide draw by going straight to the front and he clung on gamely for Dylan Browne McMonagle in the straight to hold the oncoming L’Un Deux Trois by three-quarters of a length for A. Crawford. He is likely to bid for a follow up at Galway next week.

THE 80-rated Red Azalea, who has been a model of consistency all season over a variety of trips and against an array of talented fillies, got off the mark in the Tote-sponsored maiden over an extended nine furlongs for the Coolmore partners.

Donnacha O’Brien’s charge was sent off the 8/13 favourite under Gavin Ryan and broke alertly to show in front from the outset. There was a point off the final bend when it looked as though market rival Roman Bull had been produced with a winning effort but Red Azalea contained his charge and moved on again in the closing stages to score by two and a half lengths.

“She has lovely pedigree and had run into some very smart types. She’s a versatile filly in terms of trip and ground and she’s consistent. She battled on well when the second came to her and galloped out to be a good winner,” remarked Ryan.

Improving Heather

The progressive Heather Bear (11/4) continued her rise up the ranks in the Tote-sponsored three-year-old handicap over just short of 10 furlongs where Andy Slattery’s charge made it three wins on the spin. The Ronan Tynan-owned daughter of Kodi Bear raced on the pace with Prophets Voice and stuck to her task in splendidly determined fashion when coming under strong pressure. From the turn-in she answered Andy Slattery junior’s every call to edge out her aforementioned rival by a neck.

“She was good and tough and she’s really a galloper so the track was a concern but she’s getting quicker in her work. She’s made phenomenal improvement over the last few months and I think we’ll give her a few weeks and then let her take on the older horses,” declared the trainer.

McAuley’s Star

The evening kicked off with a winner for owner-trainer James McAuley and Shane Foley as Mischief Star (7/2) landed the Tote-sponsored claimer. In first-time cheekpieces, the Due Diligence five-year-old made nearly all the running and clung on by a head from Ideal Pal to secure his third claiming success of the season.

McAuley then claimed the third-placed Alhaajeb for €11,000 while Shane Crawley picked up the fourth-placed Brehon Star for €10,000.

Sionnach Eile quickens up impressively

THE evening concluded with a couple of nice efforts over staying trips and the first of these arrived when Sionnach Eile picked up the Tote-sponsored handicap over an extended mile and a half.

Joe Murphy’s charge, who is a half-brother to his trainer’s high-class inmate Swamp Fox, did this impressively in a first-time hood to rewards those that ensured he was sent off a well-backed 7/2 favourite.

The Tom Egan-owned gelding quickened up very smartly for Gary Carroll to breeze past Stellium heading into the last furlong and finished with five and a half lengths to spare.

“He’ll head for the mile-and-a-half premier handicap on the Friday of Galway. He wouldn’t be as robust a horse as Swamp Fox and would ideally prefer longer between his races, but if he comes out of this okay he will go there,” reported the trainer’s son Joe.

Stylish Run

It was then the turn of Joseph O’Brien’s Midnight Run in the Your New Tote At Ballinrobe Maiden where the Gigginstown House Stud-owned gelding made a winning start on the flat at the age of eight.

On his first start since November, this classy jumper justified 6/4 favouritism with a touch of style. Shane Crosse rode his winner with the utmost confidence and this was reciprocated by his mount who eased his way into contention over the final half mile before picking off stablemate San Salvador at the furlong pole before an easy five-length success.