Cromac Belle overcame a tough-looking draw to win the €7,000-to-the-winner Gain Dog Foods Christmas Oaks on Saturday night at Shelbourne Park. The bitch was most impressive from the inside box in the semi-finals, and a switch to the outside made little difference as she produced a similarly emphatic performance for Jim O’Kane, Belfast.

Darragh Morrissey, Paul Hennessy and Graham Holland all recorded doubles in the first round of the 2014 Connolly’s Red Mills Irish Laurels on Saturday night at Curraheen Park, but it was the John Kavanagh-trained Vimmerby who set the bar highest with his terrific display in the second of the 13 heats.

It was as easy as 1-1-1 for trainer Graham Holland as he sent out three of Saturday night’s four quarter-final heat winners in the Gain Feeds Christmas Oaks at Shelbourne Park, all three racing from the inside trap.