Banna stars at Dundalk again

Banna Boirche went a long way to confirming himself a place at the Dubai carnival with a convincing success under top-weight in the [email protected] Handicap.

Shane Foley (was advised by the stewards afterwards to ride with more care in future) waited and waited on the course specialist (now five times a winner on the polytrack) he got a split just off the rail about a furlong out and once in the clear the result was soon beyond doubt as the big son of Lucky Owners quickened up to see off Dahindar by three parts of a length.

A delighted winning trainer Michael Halford said: "That was a very very good ride from a bad draw. Shane is very cool and keeps his head although I was delighted to see him come down the outside like I told him too!

"Listen, some nights it'll work out for you and some nights it won't. Anyway he is a smashing horse and he just loves it around here. He is on the waiting list for Dubai and hopefully he'll get an invite now.

"We also have Hujaylea and Invincible Ash going. It starts in the middle of January."