THE penultimate round of the Amateur RDS qualifiers at Ballinamona came down to the wire with the top eight combinations coming home within 35 seconds.

Follow a tough three rounds of jumping, Laois rider Gillian Blanche and Bellgrove Prima Donna took the win last Saturday when they posted a clear in 31.87. This combination is no stranger to the pressure of Dublin, having claimed the runner-up place in 2015 and coming third last year.