Hurricane Georgie gets up under Ewing's urgings

It didn't look likely, but Gordon Elliott's Hurricane Georgie pulled the mares' chase in Limerick from the fire.

She went off 10/11 favourite as the 137-rated mare was advantaged at the weights with her four rivals.

She was well off the bridle in third entering the home straight with Bonnie Kellie and Bella Bliss going much the better in front of her.

Hurricane Georgie did respond to pressure to make inroads two out, though, but she didn't jump it particularly well.

Bella Bliss rallied to regain the lead at the final fence, but Hurricane Georgie wasn't beaten yet. She jumped it well and really got a scent of victory as she attempted to reel in Bella Bliss on the run-in.

Sam Ewing earned his fee on the pursuer as she stayed on best to get up close home. The favourite pulled it out by three-parts of a length from the 7/2 runner-up.

Ewing said: "She always comes home very well in her races and, to be honest, I was half-confident turning in that she would get there. She has some great form behind some good horses and she always flies home, so I was confident she would pick them up.

"Some of her best runs seem to be when she is fresh and she is very clever and jumps brilliantly."

The well-backed Mousey Brown was a late defector due to the fast ground.

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes