Big Challenge with connections © Photo Healy Racing
Big Challenge made the best way home to get punters off to a flyer in the opening claimer over an extended nine furlongs at Ballinrobe.
James McAuley 's charge was clear top-rated in this contest with a mark of 83 and Dylan Browne McMonagle kept it simple on the 11/10 favourite by sending him into an early lead.
He came off the bridle passing the three pole but, as a former winner over an extended mile and a half in Sligo, kept toughing it out off the front. Sheila (7/1) put in a decent shift in second as she closed to within half a length at the winning post without ever looking like she was getting there. Getback In Paris (28/1) was another three parts of a length back in third.
McAuley said: "He is a grand horse but he had a leg problem before. It's like a game of roulette, black or red. Would you put €7,000 (claiming price in Sligo) on him? It's €12,000 today, the stakes are up. I claim regularly but I wouldn't give €12,000 for a horse that had a leg problem like him.
"If he is taken, he will be a grand fun horse if he is alright in the morning. If no one takes him and he comes home with us, we will look for another claimer and tip away in that. He is a grand horse for this type of grade.
"Whether he will be able to do it off his own mark is very debatable. That trip would have been plenty short for him, Dylan took no prisoners. He was a cheap purchase from Godolphin and he has won twice and been second so he has more than done his job."
Big Challenge is now two from three for McAuley. Blackstone Cliff (€12,000) was claimed by Richard Walsh to be trained by Joseph Murray.
Big Challenge (€12,000) was claimed by Mr P Sweeney to be trained by Dick Donohoe.
Getback In Paris was claimed back by connections, while there was a friendly claim for Sheila.
Additional reporting by Donal Murphy
