There was a Ballydoyle winner of the P.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes for the 13th time, but not the horse the market expected, as 11/1 shot Christmas Day beat stablemate Endorsement (17/2), while Epsom Derby favourite Pierre Bonard (evens fav) disappointed in seventh.

Ronan Whelan set the pace aboard the eventual runner-up, while Wayne Lordan settled Christmas Day behind the leaders, while the favourite was shuffled back to mid-division. Christmas Day ran on well on the stands’ side in the straight and headed the leader inside the final furlong, running on to lead by half a length on the line. Donnacha O’Brien’s representative A Boy Named Susie finished well under Oisin Murphy to take third.