It would hardly be overstating things now to say that Banna Boirche is one of the most popular horses to have performed on Dundalk's polytrack and the attractive big six-year-old defied a ten stone three pound burden under Shane Foley in the Crowne Plaza Race & Stay Package Handicap.

In gaining his eight win at the Dowdallshill venue, Banna Boirche got there late under Foley (his sixth win on the Lucky Owners-sired gelding) to catch and pass the front-running Elusive Ridge by a neck. Billyford didn't get a clear run in the final furlong and finished a further length back in third.

Things didn't go right for the gamble of the contest Lightening Stricks (9/1 this morning into 11/4) and he faded into seventh whilst Vastitas was injured at the stalls and that 10/1 chance had to be withdrawn.

Michael Halford trains Banna Boirche for Northerner Paul Rooney and he said: "It was a good weight carrying performance and he just loves it around here. Shane gets a good tune out of him.

"We may try him on grass now on fast ground over a mile and see if we can break his duck on grass." (AM & EM)