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Double for McDonogh as Decision denies Bianca

Runners break from the stalls, with eventual winner Decision Time second from the rightRunners break from the stalls, with eventual winner Decision Time second from the right
© Photo Healy Racing

Decision Time got up close home to deny the hat-trick seeking Bianca Minola in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap.

The John Kiely trained victor was providing her rider Declan McDonogh with a double on the card, having earlier taken the opener aboard Betsy Trotter.

Having won her maiden at Fairyhouse last October, the seven-year-old daughter of Milan got off the mark over flights at Tramore last month.

She disappointed in novice company at Cork on her last start, and was sent off at 6/1 this afternoon in the colours of owner Liam Gleeson.

Settled in mid-division, she had plenty to do in sixth as they entered the straight.

She was ridden from two furlongs out, and improved into fourth from the furlong pole, keeping on strongly from there to prevail by a neck.

The runner-up was returned the 2/1 favourite under Billy Lee for Richard O'Brien, while Ringside Humour (8s to 6s) was another length and a half back in third for Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning.

Kiely said afterwards: "It's nice to come up here and have an animal that justifies it. She's consistent and wanted good ground, I won't say this ground, but she seemed to handle it and hopefully she's okay after it.

"She wasn't able to handle the deep ground. We'll mix it with her now (hurdles and Flat) and hopefully she'll pay for herself.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee

About Donal Murphy
Donal graduated from Maynooth University in 2010 with a BBS in Equine Business and since attained a diploma in Sports Journalism from Dublin Business School. He holds a variety of roles in the horse racing industry, reporting for the Press Association and p2p.ie, while also working for SIS and the Tote. From Wexford, he is a keen runner and has completed over 100 parkruns at various locations around the country.