Long Gone records popular local success for Queally Trainer Declan Queally continued what has been an excellent season when sending out Long Gone to win the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Maiden Hurdle at Tramore. The seven-year-old, who looked to face a stiff task carrying a penalty for her bumper win at Limerick last term, showed a really determined attitude to make virtually all the running under Alex Harvey. Sea Of Doubt kept the eventual winner honest for much of the journey but on the approach to two out, both Russellsbelle and odds-on favourite Qualimita emerged as serious threats. However, with the former exiting at that penultimate flight and Qualimita coming down independently a few strides after landing, the whole complexion changed once again. Long Gone was strongly pressed by Sea Of Doubt after the last hurdle but found extra on the run-in to prevail by a length. Declan Queally said: "We took a bit of a risk running her back over two miles, but the race was worth €15,000 and as we are only down the road, we said we'd take our chance. I told Alex before hand to give her a nice aggressive ride, she has plenty of experience. She was the only winner in the field, I won a bumper on her at Limerick last year. Ideally she wants two miles four to two five. "We had a bit of luck with the horses coming down two out, but the riders and horses are up and that's the main thing. It's great to pick up the €5,000 bonus as well. "I'm delighted for her owners John Bates and his son Gilmer, they are great supporters of the yard. "Chris Shanahan (course foreman) deserves plenty of credit for the condition of the ground. It's back to yielding and that's what the riders want, safe ground." Additional reporting by Donal Murphy.
