Abarta battles gamely to beat Survival

Abarta bounced back from a disappointing run at Ballinrobe recently as he battled gamely to win the Why Not Sponsor A Race At Sligo Handicap Chase.

The Val O’Brien trained eight-year-old was sent off the 9/4 favourite last week but he could only manage sixth there (reported to be blowing hard post race).

Carrying just nine stone eleven today he opened on-course at 10/1 before being backed into 8’s at the off (was 6/1 this morning).

Prominent throughout under Phillip Enright he was sent to the front after the third last and he was ridden into the straight.

He was joined by Survival at the last and they had a great tussle on the run-in with the winner gaining the upper hand close home, going on to score by three parts of a length.

The Norman Lee trained runner-up was returned at 7/1 under Adrian Heskin while Prosperity Square completed the placings six and a half lengths back in third under David Casey for Conor O’Dwyer at 12/1.

Mia’s Anthem was sent off the well-backed 9/2 favourite (opened at 11/2 on-course) but he could only manage a disappointing seventh under Mick Darcy for Noel Kelly.

Val O'Brien said afterwards: “He was a bit disappointing at Ballinrobe where he was dropped in and jumped high. He saw more daylight today and jumped better.

"As long as the ground stays middling he will keep going. He needs three miles."

The winner is owned by O’Brien’s brother Sean.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee