Forlio overcomes long layoff to make winning Irish debut

The Paul Flynn trained Forlio overcame an absence of 576 days when staying on strongly under Colin Keane to win the concluding AOS Security Handicap at Limerick.

A 5-race maiden for Edward Bethell when trained in Britain a couple of years back, the gelding was making his first start for new connections.

Held up in mid division for much of the contest, Keane moved closer early in the straight, as Nusra took over from long time leader Mayo For Sam

Challenging the former over a furlong out, Forlio made light of his absence, drawing on his stamina reserves close home to run out a gutsy neck winner.

Paul Flynn said: "It's a shame none of the owners could make it today and they have been very patient with him. Aubrey McMahon bought him for very small money (2,500gns) but he hurt his back last year and we couldn't get him back in time to run on turf.

"I didn't think he was a Dundalk horse and the time off has obviously done him good and he has strengthened up.

"He had some nice runs in the UK and there were some decent horses came out of a Beverley maiden he ran in so I thought he was well handicapped if we could get him back. He has done some amount of work but I did think he would need the run.

"He (Keane) said he didn't really love the ground as it was sticky for him so normal soft would be better for him. It is great for the lads who were patient and they backed him by the looks of things."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes.