THIS week’s rain was very welcome at Naas Racecourse which stages the €300,000 Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes on Monday.

It’s the second running of the event which is restricted to horses by sires who are EBF-eligible and whose progeny sold for a median price of no more than €75,000 at last year’s yearling sales. Prize money will be paid down to 12th place and there is also a €50,000 consolation race with prize money down to sixth.