Baily Green leads over the final flight ahead of Domination (red)© Photo Healy Racing
Baily Green just denied the well-backed Domination to land the spoils in the KWD Handicap Hurdle at Killarney.
The race developed into a driving finish between the pair in the closing stages with just a nose seperating them at the line. Norther Bay made a bold bid from the front in the 2m1f contest which had a nice pot of €27,500.
He was strongly pressed by Baily Green at the second last and gave way at the final flight to David Casey's mount.
Domination, who had settled mid-division, made headway two out and was ridden into a close third at the last.
The favourite, backed from 4/1 into 11/4 on course, stayed on to challenge on the run-in but just failed by the narrowest of margins to peg back the Mouse Morris-trained Baily Green.
The winner was completing a four-timer, having recorded a hat-trick over fences this summer.
"He's a great jumper over fences and I wasn't sure if he would be as good over hurdles but his jumping was a big help," said Casey afterwards.
"He's definately improving and the ground drying out was a big plus.
"Mouse wasn't sure if he was going to run a few days ago because of the ground but he was so fresh at home he decided he had to get him out."
(On course reporting by Alan Magee)
