Difficult Decision

Both wins came in a tight two-month window back in late 2022 — first at Thurles in November, then at Limerick on St. Stephen's Day that December. That Limerick win is now 42 months in the rearview mirror, which is a long time in any sport. Since then, across the last six races, the best Difficult Decision has managed is a fourth place — twice — with a fifth, a sixth, and a seventh also on the board. Not disgraces, but the winning feeling has clearly been elusive.

What makes the story a little more interesting is the partnership with jockey Phillip Enright. In 11 races together, they've won twice — a win rate of roughly 1 in every 5 — which is a genuinely strong number and well above what the horse has managed overall. When Enright is in the saddle, something clicks. Whether that continues to translate into wins at this stage of the horse's career is the open question.

Trainer Oliver McKiernan, based in Rathcoole in County Dublin, has sent out six winners this season, so the yard is in form even if Difficult Decision hasn't been the one adding to that tally. The horse raced just yesterday, which tells you it remains active and in work — a 13-year-old still lining up is a horse someone still believes in, even if the wins have dried up. The challenge now is simple to understand and hard to solve: the last victory was almost three and a half years ago, and horses don't tend to find it easier as the years pass. But Difficult Decision keeps showing up, and in racing, that counts for something.