Difficult Decision (left) © Photo Healy Racing
Difficult Decision backed from 33/1 in places this morning to a starting price of 10/1, just came out on top in the handicap chase under Phillip Enright.
The nine-year-old, winning for the first time over fences, led or disputed throughout and had his head down at the right time to see off the persistent challenge of Filon D'oudairies by a nose.
Winning trainer Oliver McKiernan, whose 6/4 favourite Winding River was beaten two necks in the opener, said: "I thought in Punchestown the last day he was lucky not to be brought down when I thought he was going well and it affected his momentum. He also had cheekpieces on and they seemed to light him up.
"I thought today's trip might be short for him as he stays three miles so we made plenty use of him. He doesn't want deep winter ground as he has small feet and is a handy horse but he is game. We'll look for much the same next, maybe back over 2m4f.
"I thought my lad in the first (third-placed Winding River) had the better chance coming here."
Quotes from Tom Weekes
