In the absence of the favourite Painstown Chief the 2015 Longford Derby went to the late developing Long Term.

The April 13 whelp trained by Francie Murray, who has been mainly A2 class in his early races, produced a career best run in the semi-finals with 29.84sec and was put in the new 5-4 favourite for the final once Paul Hennessy’s hot-pot was withdrawn lame.

The son of Head Bound blasted clear from traps and had enough in the tank to hold off the persistent challenge of Ravenwood Gold by a length in 29.97sec, earning his owner Caren Walsh the €5,000 first prize.