Takeachancejimmy rewards Slevin's thinking

Takeachancejimmy brought up plenty of bets when catching Ides Of August at the business end of the featured KPMG Handicap in Ballinrobe.

Colin Keane drove Ides Of August to the head of affairs a furlong and a half out but Takeachancejimmy made headway on the outer to chase them into the straight.

Ides Of August came under the whip and responded as he stuck to his task along the rail in the final furlong.

Takeachancejimmy came down the centre of the track and finished his race off powerfully to get up in the closing stages to win by a length and a quarter with Nathan Crosse in the saddle.

The winner was available at 28/1 this morning and was returned at 6/1 from the 9/4 joint favourite.

Trainer Nigel Slevin said: "He improved a good bit from Fairyhouse where he blew up (in fifth). He was second in this race two years ago when it was last run. We kind of had it in the back of our heads to come back and have a go at it because it is a good pot. I'm delighted it came off.

"He is a solid horse who turns up every year and wins one or two for us and I'm delighted to have him.

"I doubt he will go to Galway. We ran him there twice and he didn't seem to like it. The hustle and bustle there gets him wound up so I'd say we will sidestep that one anyway."

Additional reporting by Donal Murphy