The sole win came at Limerick back in May 2024, and it remains the one shining moment on an otherwise modest CV. Two years have passed since that day, and nothing in the six races since has come close to repeating it — finishing 2nd, 5th, 3rd, 4th, 10th, and 4th in that stretch. The second place is encouraging, the 10th less so. What you see is a horse that is almost always in the conversation without ever quite winning it.
Mr Paddy Hanlon has been aboard for 13 of those 18 races, a real sign of trust from the yard, and together they have produced that one win — a rate of about 1 in every 13 rides together. John Joseph Hanlon trains out of Bagenalstown in County Carlow and has sent out 11 winners already this season, so the operation is in decent form even if Half A Chance hasn't been the one contributing to that tally. The horse raced just yesterday, which means it's very much active and still being campaigned with intent.
At this stage of its career, Half A Chance is the kind of horse that will always find a few interested faces in the crowd — people who remember Limerick, or who see the recent placed efforts and think today might be the day. Whether that day comes again is the question.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Limerick Galloping |
3 | 1 win, 1 second, 1 other | 29 May | 33.3% |
| Wexford Sharp |
2 | 2 other | 7 May | 0% |
| Galway Tight |
2 | 2 other | 3 Aug | 0% |
| Thurles Undulating |
1 | 1 third | 20 Dec | 0% |
| Downpatrick Undulating |
1 | 1 second | 19 Sep | 0% |
| Kilbeggan Tight |
1 | 1 other | 24 Apr | 0% |
| Listowel Sharp |
1 | 1 second | 26 Sep | 0% |
| Punchestown Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 3 May | 0% |
| Wetherby Galloping |
1 | 1 second | 1 Nov | 0% |
| Taunton Undulating |
1 | 1 other | 27 Nov | 0% |
| Naas Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 7 Feb | 0% |
| Plumpton Sharp |
1 | 1 other | 5 Apr | 0% |
| Down Royal Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 21 Jan | 0% |
| Tipperary Galloping |
1 | 1 third | 5 Oct | 0% |