El Bello recorded a fifth career win when the almost white gelding got the better of fellow joint topweight Ferrybank in the Friday 12th July Ladies Day At Dundalk Stadium Handicap.

Ferrybank, already twice a winner here this year from wide draws, was sent off the 5/4 favourite to repeat the trick from stall 15 and made a bold bid under Billy Lee.

Ted Walsh ’s charge again came over to the stand side in the straight but was unable to repel the challenge of El Bello inside the final furlong.

The Denis Hogan-trained 15/2 shot kept on strongly up the centre of the track and got on top in the closing stages under Daniel King to beat Ferrybank by a length. Wayne R Walker was a further half-a-length back in third.

King said, "He likes it up here, that's his third win (in Dundalk) now.

"He travelled everywhere there for me today and, when I gave him a squeeze, he picked up and did it nicely in the end.

"He is (dangerous in that grade), he's a nice horse on a bit of nice ground.

"He was good and impressive there today."

Quotes by Michael Graham