Yulong has her Chinese owners smiling The first-time cheekpieces worked a treat on Yulong Baoju, as the grey filly took the Irish National Stud Gathering Handicap under Johnny Murtagh for Eddie Lynam. The three-year-old daughter of Acclamation won on her debut at Dundalk in August but disappointed on her next two outings at Naas and Fairyhouse. Dropped back to five furlongs for the first time, she was sent off at 7/2 and was prominent throughout. She hit the front inside the final furlong and she held off the late challenge of Speed Dream (8/1) under Dylan Robinson, to win by a length at the line. Powerful Wind (11/1) was a further two and a half lengths back in third under Kevin Manning for Ron Harris, while the 15/8 favourite, Illustrate (opened on-course at 5/2) finished a very disappointing eleventh under Joseph O’Brien for his father Aidan. Eddie Lynam said afterwards: “Timing is everything and her owners are over from China to see her run and even better they had a few quid on. "The BBA bought her for a new Chinese client and they sent her to me. "It was a good time, 57.85, and she’ll probably go for the Rockingham now." Additional reporting by Alan Magee
