There was plenty of competition to make the running in the www.dundalkstadium.com Handicap.

It was hardly surprising then to see the pace-setters pay for their early exertions.

In a very tight finish, 14/1 shot Strait Of Zanzibar (gaining his first win since a Listed victory as a 2yo) came out on top by a head from Jamesie (just held) with the same margin to the third placed Flic Flac

Amazingly the distances back as far as the eighth home, Joe Eile were a head again, half a length, a head, a neck and a short head – not much more than a length and a quarter covering the first 'octet.'

Ken Condon trains Strait Of Zanzibar for the Zinlo Syndicate and he said: "I was looking back at his third last run (not beaten far at this venue) and he's been threatening to do that for a while.

"I'm delighted with the way he battled. He responded to Niall's driving and fought all the way to the line.

"He didn't win last year and I'm delighted for the connections as it's easy to lose faith.

"They finished very tight and the handicapper can't put him up too much. He could now go for a similar race here on Friday week." (AM & EM)