Boynagh Joy continued her sharp rate of improvement in recent weeks when taking the [email protected] Apprentice Handicap in fine style under Sean Levey.

The five-year-old mare was rated just 57 when winning here in September but such is her level of progress that connections are now looking at moving her up to Listed company.

She travelled sweetly on the heels of the leaders before stretching right away inside the final furlong to beat Rambling Dancer by three lengths, with Eighteen Summers another length back in third.

“It's her temperment that has really improved the most but she also loves a battle and would run through a wall if you asked her to. She was very backward last season but has done nothing but improve this year. We may put her in a Listed race over ten furlongs here in a few weeks,” said trainer James Halpin.