Bianca Minola making hay in May

Curley Bill blew the start of the mile and a half handicap at Roscommon and was beaten into second by the in-form Bianca Minola at Roscommon.

The 9/4 favourite had to go the long way around the field while Bianca Minola enjoyed a clear run in second entering the straight.

The latter travelled sweetly to the head of affairs with a quarter of a mile to race and soon went for home under Billy Lee.

Curley Bill responded to Colin Keane's urgings as the pair tried to reel in the leader in the final furlong. However, Bianca Minola was driven out to score by a length.

She was well backed during the day from 5/1 to 15/8 before going off 11/4. The French bred ran under a 6lb penalty for winning at Cork on Saturday. Nanabad gave her each-way supporters a return in third at 20/1. Hyperdrive was a non-runner to reduce this handicap from 16 runners to 15.

Handler Richard O'Brien said: “I couldn't see any reason not to run her again after Cork, she seemed terrible well.

“(Running again) wasn't really from a handicapping point of view it was just these fillies when they're well and all her previous form seems to suggest she wants a bit of a cut in it.

“I may be wrong but it mightn't last for too much longer.

“It's great and I'm really thrilled for the owner Clive Washbourn. He's got quite a few horses in training in England.

“Funnily enough I haven't met him but we speak regularly and he adores the filly. He'll get a great kick out of it.

“We're delighted with her. Billy felt she travelled better on that ground, it was just a little bit gluey and horrible in Cork.

“I haven't her in anything but with the form she's in I probably won't delay with her.

“Evidently the trip wasn't a problem. It was a little bit of a question mark. Billy said he wasn't going to commit as early as he did. It just fell apart a little bit again in front but she travels terrible well.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson