Maud Gonne Spirit defied a 335-day absence to make a winning return in the opening seven-furlong conditions race at Gowran Park this afternoon.

The Jessica Harrington-trained filly was last seen finishing fourth in Listed company at Naas last October.

She went to post an 11/2 shot today and was produced with a strong run by Shane Foley inside the final furlong.

The Intello mare got on top in the closing stages to post a neck victory over Pretty Rebel

The runner-up, sent off 6/4 favourite, looked a touch unlucky having been knocked off her stride a furlong out when the front-running Marcher Lord drifted left.

Harrington said of the winner afterwards:- “That's great, she's nearly a year off the track because of the ground. I haven't been able to run her all year.

“She was slow to come to hand in the spring and I didn't get to run her when we had a little bit of ease in the ground.

“I've been sitting waiting and took her out at Punchestown the other day.

“I have her in at Tipperary in a couple of weeks (Group 3 Concorde Stakes) and I'm just hoping for rain. She loves the soft ground.

“She was fourth in a listed race last year and she's shown that she hasn't lost it, which is a great thing.”