Long Gone`s victory after returning to bumper

After finishing third on his racecourse debut over hurdles, Long Gone returned to bumper company and won the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares INH Flat Race at Limerick.

The Getaway daughter, donning a hood for the first time, settled in somewhat more comfortably this time, keeping up with the pace while Aine O'Connor set the fractions on Florance.

For a while, it seemed like the leader would win as they ran into the dip before the home straight, with Long Gone and most of the opposition falling behind.

But having shown her mettle over an extra half-mile in her debut, the Queally mare grew stronger the farther she travelled.

The 10/3 chance took the lead more than a furlong out and continued to run powerfully, opening up a gap of eight and a half lengths between herself and the late finisher Former Flame.

Winning jockey Declan Queally said: "I got in contact with Gilmer (Bates, owner) through Jonathan Birkmore and Danny Fitzsimmons in the north who have horses with me, and I had success selling horses with Jonathan. We had this mare entered at a sale last week but felt we might be 'penalised' for not having gone for a bumper so I said to Gilmer that he would be mad to sell her. Her work since Wexford had been brilliant. She is a smart mare, probably does a bit more on the track than at home and we'll give her a chance now and see what Gilmer wants to do."