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.

The draw for the first round of the Sporting Press Irish Oaks has thrown up a few intriguing clashes.