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Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
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- Longing off the mark on return
Gary Carson
Longing off the mark on return
Longing beats Rickrack
© Photo Healy Racing
Longing gained an important set of brackets when opening her account in the nine-furlong fillies maiden at Tipperary.
The Ballydoyle filly cost 1 million guineas as a yearling and had shaped with promise on her sole previous outing when third at Leopardstown in April.
Seamie Heffernan tracked the leader Rickrack on the even-money favourite before asking her to tackle that rival a furlong-and-a-half from home.
The daughter of Galileo got on top inside the final 100 yards to record a three-parts-of-a-length success. Longing is a half-sister to Group Three winner Ladys First.
"She had the form to win it but it doesn't always go that way. It was a while since she ran so I'm expecting her to improve and she's honest,” said Heffernan.
"She is a big heavy mare and looking at her, you'd think there's plenty improvement in her; she is likeable and put her head down."
(Quotes by Thomas Weekes)