Longbourn and Dylan Browne McMonagle win the "Red God" for trainer Ross O Sullivan from Ceallach.© Photo Healy Racing
Longbourn just did enough under Dylan Browne McMonagle to hang on for a narrow win in the featured Irish Stallion Farms EBF "Red God" Premier Handicap at Dundalk.
The Ross O'Sullivan trained gelding was registering a first win at the track, although he had been placed on seven of his previous 10 visits.
Well away despite his wide draw, the seven-year-old was always in the first half-dozen runners, moving easily in fifth as the leaders entered the home straight.
Pushed along to lead over a furlong out, Longbourn found plenty for pressure to hold the late burst of Ceallach At the line, there was just a short head separating the front two. San Andreas kept on strongly from out of the pack to finish third, with last years winner Golden Twilight back in fourth.
Ross O'Sullivan said: "Absolutely brilliant.
"We just said it is swings and roundabouts - in the last week we were standing in Naas and got beat a short head with a different horse (Turbulence) and this week we win by a short head. That's the rollercoaster!
"He's a horse that we have got great sport out of in the last couple of years, he brought us to Bahrain last year, and he is so consistent.
"It is great to have him and to win a big pot like that today is unbelievable.
"Amanda (Torrens, owner) is a great supporter of the yard and a great help.
"We had six seconds in the last two weeks and as much as Katie (Walsh, wife) says 'Cop on, they are running well', it can be frustrating.
"You just need to be keeping the show on the road and a winner is everything.
"He is rated 88 and he will be up a few pound again today, he can run in those handicaps (at Irish Champions Festival)."
Amanda Torrens added: "It is all Donegal today except for Kildare in the middle of it!
"As Ross has said, he has been a brilliant horse.
"We sponsor Scott McCullagh, so we told him to stay away from Longbourn today!"
Additional reporting by Michael Graham.
