Sharlanda defied top-weight with a gutsy performance in division one of the Whitfield Orthopaedic & Sports Injury Clinic Handicap Hurdle at Gowran Park.

The former Colm Murphy-trained mare, reappearing after a ten-month break and having her first run for Colin Bowe, tracked the leaders throughout in this two-mile event.

J J Slevin’s mount and Touch Of Gold settled down to fight out a finish from before the last, and the pair were neck and neck on the run-in.

The seven-year-old daughter of Choisir proved just the stronger in the closing stages to prevail by a neck at odds of 8/1, while Broughtons Star finished a further four lengths back in third.

The ground drying out to be officially called good to firm after the second race caused quite a few non-runners during the day, and Delayed Eloquence and Global Racing were both withdrawn here.

Freedom Square was also an absentee after being injured in transit, while Aussie Guest (20/1) was taken out at the start on veterinary advice.

There were over 20 non-runners in total on the eight-race card not including reserves.