There may have only been five runners in the Beamish Stout Hurdle at Tramore with the defection of Satu but punters still found it hard to find a favourite and it proved a tight affair out on the track too as Wikaala eventually prevailed by two and a half lengths from Gudnis Gracious Me

Paul Carberry led on the joint favourite (at 5/2 with Gudnis Gracious Me) after the last from his aforementioned rival and he went on to beat that one and Roseska by a further two and a half lengths.

Winning trainer, Gordon Elliott wasn't on hand to greet the winner but his fiancée Annie Bowles and owner Sean Gallagher were present.

The latter said: "I'm from Duleek, in the same parish as Bellewstown, where my business is located and this horse will probably go there now later in the month if everything is alright."

Of course Wikaala won a charity race in his time under Annie Bowles at Fakenham.