Love Nest was popular in the market for the Crowne Plaza Hotel Of Dundalk Handicap but with money coming for several of his rivals on track he went off a bit easier to back at odds of 4/1.

However that didn't stop Leigh Roche's mount from getting the better of Misty Lane by half a length with Lord Kenmare three parts of a length back in third.

Denis Hogan trains Love Nest and the Laffansbridge Racing Syndicate own him. From that grouping John Ryan and John Lahart from Killenaule were in attendance. There are ten in the syndicate all from that Tipperary parish. The rest of them were in Croke Park at the match.

Ryan and Lahart reported: "We were expecting a good run and we were hopeful last time too when he was second at Leopardstown. We lost a horse this day last year at Tramore, Laffan Island. That's the swings and roundabouts of racing.

"He'll come back here as he needs good ground. He was given a lovely ride by Leigh. He didn't like where he was drawn but he got him out well."

Chris Hayes and Leigh Roche picked up two day bans for careless riding on Wild China (fifth) and Love Nest respectively. (MG & EM)