Half A Chance a first winner in pro ranks for Hanlon

Jockey Paddy Hanlon rode his first winner in the professional ranks when producing Half A Chance with a well timed challenge to land the Connolly's RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle at Limerick.

Son of trainer John 'Shark' Hanlon, the teenager had registered three previous successes in Britain but this was his first in his native country.

Held up towards rear, as Break The Boundary led Field Of Thistles up front, Hanlon was content to bide his time, gradually picking off rivals on the second circuit.

Coming through on the inside to lead at the second last, Half A Chance belied odds of 25/1 in staying on for a comfortable one-and-three-quarter length win.

Shark Hanlon said: "Paddy tries hard and with the bumpers at the moment, Willie (Mullins) is winning 95% of them so no lad gets a chance. I have plenty of horses at home, and some I shouldn't have as they're not much good, but they will give him plenty of experience.

"He was 17 the day before yesterday and got his license on his birthday and finished third on his first ride as a professional. Garry Cribbin is his agent and he recently went over to England to Charlie and Francesca Poste where he learned a lot.

"He did plenty pony racing, won the Dingle Derby and was the first Irish lad to win the Scottish Championship. I'm delighted for him."

He added: "The horse had form, ran well here in a bumper and I'm delighted for the syndicate which I put together after doing a Cheltenham preview night in England. They are an English group so we'll have to go there at some stage to run him.

"He is a nice horse, probably wants farther and the ground is mixed but seems yielding, and I wouldn't have ran him on any quicker."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes.