Following Oliver McKiernan and Barry Browne has proved a very profitable exercise over the Christmas and New Year period. The trainer and jockey were at it again at Clonmel this afternoon with 16/1 chance Difficult Decision in the Tipperary Handicap Hurdle.

Since December 28th McKiernan and Browne have combined for wins with Life Isfor Living (8/1), Best Behavior (8/1) and Mister Eddman (6/1).

Here their Difficult Decision shrugged aside the fact that he’d been out of action for 609 days. Fighting Fit (7/4 out to 5/2 favourite) fell two out when in with every chance and on the run-in Difficult Decision got the better of Spare Brakes by two and three parts of a length.

There was a length and a quarter back to Stolen Moment in third.

"He was keen early on and that's why I kept holding on to him as I thought I might struggle to finish out," said Browne.

"He was ready all last winter but Oliver didn't want to chance him on the good ground then. He is a soft ground horse who has plenty to learn."

S.F. O'Keeffe, rider of Chasing Charlie (GB) trained by Mrs Caroline McCaldin, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount did not handle the downhill run during this race.

Under the provisions of Rule 90, the Stewards allowed Charlotte Wells, trained by P.J. Rothwell, to run on receipt of the trainer's written assurance that the error identified in the certification of vaccinations would be corrected in accordance with Rule 91 within the timeframe specified.

The trainer subsequently withdrew this animal because of the change in the going.

(TW & EM)