Keith Donoghue is hoping Ronald Pump can return to the winners enclosure at Leopardstown over Christmas, following his excellent run in defeat in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse last month.

The Matthew Smith trained gelding was a fast-finishing second to Honeysuckle in the aforementioned Grade 1 and will return to his optimum trip of three miles at Leopardstown on December 28th.

"It was a very pleasing run. Going out we would have took second and we would have been delighted with it," Donoghue said.

"Obviously the way it worked out it was probably a bit frustrating because we nearly could have won the race, but it was still a brilliant run to be second.

"The race wasn't run to suit us and I had to sit and suffer in a bit of a pocket. When they quickened down to the second last I didn't have the two mile speed that they had and I only got going when I hit the rising ground.

"The main aim was always going to be Christmas and the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham. Matty seems to have him in good form and we are hoping for a big run in Leopardstown now.

"Matty is a brilliant trainer and he has done so well with horses like One Cool Poet and Rawnaq. He is always producing the winners every year and while he doesn't have the same owners as the big trainers have, he is every bit as good and he has proven that when he gets the horses."