Bardenstown Lad and Keith Donoghue © Photo Healy Racing
Keith Donoghue has made a bright start to the new jumps season and made it seven winners in as many days when partnering a 467/1 treble completed by the surprise victory of Bardenstown Lad in the featured Kilbeggan Handicap Hurdle.
The Black Sam Bellamy gelding won five times over hurdles for John McConnell but has been very disappointing over fences since joining Gavin Cromwell this year and finished tailed off at Tipperary last week.
The switch back to hurdles certainly rekindled the nine-year-old who was prominent throughout in this three-mile event and the 25/1 chance rallied gamely on the run-in to peg back Lisnamult Lad by half-a-length. Donkey Years was a further two and a half lengths away in third.
Cromwell said, “We’re very surprised. His last couple of runs over fences he didn’t want to know about it and he had no race the other day in Tipperary as he made no effort at all. He just doesn’t seem to enjoy chasing.
“He was entered in Doncaster (Sales) next week but I’d say there might be a change of plan. I’ve no idea where he’ll go next but that’s a nice prize to get.”
Donoghue earlier teamed up with Cromwell to take the opener on If You Let Me (7/2) and was also successful on the Gillian Callaghan-trained Run For Harry (3/1).
