McDonagh back in the number 1 after lean spell

Without success since Senor Benny won at Tipperary in October 2008, Kevin McDonagh got back to the number one spot courtesy of Robertstown Rover s win in the Linden Foods Handicap Chase under Niall 'Slippers' Madden at Downpatrick.

A daughter of Carroll House (in the news lately owing to the death of his trainer, Michael Jarvis) Robertstown Rover had one previous success to her name in 32 outings, that coming for George Kingston at Fairyhouse in February 2008. On this her third start for McDonagh she was rated a lowly 67 and was sent off outsider of the nine strong field at 20/1 (from 25s on track, 33s this morning).

However off a feather-weight of nine stone twelve, Robertstown Rover travelled well for Madden and she gamely pulled out enough on the run-in to beat Shernaz McSwynes Bay and favourite One Fine Morning by a length and a half, a length and a half and two and a half lengths.

Interestingly McDonagh's last runner Under The Spell ran well at Ballinrobe on Monday evening and he said: "We had a few quid on her as we thought she had a chance. She'll keep tipping away now in that grade."