2009 Galway Plate winner Ballyholland made a return to the winners' enclosure at Ballybrit when producing a game performance to take the Colm Quinn BMW Chase.
Andrew McNamara renewed his partnership with the Colin McBratney-trained gelding to land the €20,000 contest.
The 5/1 shot hit the front after the final fence and looked set for a comfortable success as he travelled well into the straight. Lenabane stayed on strongly however and made his rival pull out all the stops in the closing stages for a half length success. Scotsirish was sent off the 4/6 favourite for the 2m6f event but wasn't travelling from a good bit out and could only plug on for third, six-lengths back.
The winner was a never dangerous seventh in this year's Galway Plate, his first start since sustaining an injury in the Topham Chase at Aintree.
"He seems to love it around here. He's brilliant - for such a big horse he's so clever (over his jumps)," said McBratney.
"He got a foot injury at Aintree and was stood in his stable for eight weeks. We thought it was an injury he might not recover from but he's very brave.
"He'll get an entry for the Kerry National and we'll see what the handicapper does to him. Another option is the conditions race he won at Navan (on 24th September) a few seasons ago."
Gary Carson
