Tongie continued a good run for punters at Limerick this afternoon when gaining a hard-earned and somewhat fortunate win in the Money Back On Cheltenham Fallers At Coral.ie Rated Novice Hurdle.

The Pat Fahy-trained gelding was as big as 5/2 this morning but was well-backed throughout the day and went off the strong 5/4 favourite in this six-runner 2m3f event.

Tongie, a course and distance winner of a maiden back in November, made most of the running but had been headed by Ice Cool when that rival fell at the penultimate flight.

Less than a length separated the first three home at the final hurdle, and it was Tongie who dug deepest under David Mullins to prevail by three quarters of a length. Prince Kup took the runner-up spot, with The Mulcare Rover another length and three quarters adrift in third.

Fahy said, "Ice Cool was travelling well when he fell but it was still a nice bit out and Tongie didn't give in when the other two (runner-up and third) came to him.

"We were going to go chasing but I think we did the right thing by staying over hurdles and we can look forward to fences next season.

"His jumping is now getting very accurate and he could run in a race like the Martinstown Handicap Hurdle Final at the Punchestown Festival."

(TW & AM)