Ronald Pump goes from strength to strength

Ronald Pump continues to improve at a rate of knots as he delivered in the Grade B novice handicap hurdle series final at Fairyhouse.

Keith Donoghue 's mount tacked onto the leaders with half a mile to go and closed two out in third place.

Donoghue got into the drive position and Ronald Pump (12/1) shot to the front before the last.

He jumped it well and rocketed home on the run-in to beat a staying-on Ifyoucatchmenow (16/1) by two lengths. The Gunner Murphy (7/1) and Aforementioned (20/1) completed the placings in third and fourth respectively.

Trainer Matthew Smith said: “He's just been improving and he really wants to win.

“I bought him for €1,000 at Tattersalls and we didn't expect him to be this good. He had a nice page and there was just something about him that I liked. I know he's a bit small but it's no bother to him.

“He's just improving the whole time and to do that off 136. I knew he was in good form and I knew he'd run a big race but he won going away.

“I wasn't overly concerned about his raise for his last win. He works well and he's a really nice horse.

“The plan was to go to Aintree but it was just a little bit quick after Cork so we said we'd come here.

“His work the other day was middling, he didn't work as well as he usually would, and I was 50/50 about running but thankfully I did.

“Keith is a really good rider and he gave him a great ride.

“I'll chat to the lads and he could probably do with a little break at some stage.

“I was toying with the idea of running him on the Flat over a mile-six or two miles.

“He'll go on all sorts of ground. He'll go on heavy ground or good ground.”

Keith Donoghue added: "I was worried and I think Matthew was worried that the handicapper might be after getting him. He was stepping up into a good race today.

"We went a good gallop and he dropped in and settled. I was a bit worried I was a bit far back so I just switched out and moved up five or six places. I got a position so easy I could just sit the whole way then until the third last. When I pulled him out he really came alive and galloped to the line well.

"He's very quick at his hurdles and that really helps him to get into his race. He's good and honest."

This was Ronald Pump's fourth victory in his last five starts. He started his winning run on a mark of 102 and took this off 136.

Rachael Blackmore was stood down for the rest of the card after a fall from Insult

Additional reporting by Gary Carson