For Gortnatona made all and took the mares maiden hurdle in Wexford by the scruff of the neck to give Mick Winters and Johnny Burke a winner.

The seven-year-old asserted before the second last and had all the pursuers in trouble. She was clear at the last and bounded home to score by nine lengths at 3/1.

Handler Mick Winters said: "She jumped like an ox, she gained two lengths at the back of each hurdle. Her mother (Dromhale Lady) was an awful tough mare who kept improving and won a load of races (seven) for Michael Hourigan.

"We might go for a chase with her now. We put on the cheekpieces as Adrian Heskin said the last day that she was a little bit idle and that she needed the run." Twenty Four Years was always prominent in third but had no answer to the winner and came home second at 9/2. Petite Beauty ran a decent race in third at 80/1. This was only her second hurdle race after four unplaced efforts on the flat.

Additional reporting by Donal Murphy