Stumptown back in winning groove as Cromwell and Donoghue enjoy Galway double
Stumptown and Keith Donoghue won The W.B. Gavin & Co Handicap Hurdle for trainer Gavin Cromwell at Galway. Pic: Healy Racing Photo
Better known as a cross-country chaser and winner of the Velka Pardubicka last year, Stumptown made a successful return to hurdling when making all to land the featured W B Gavin & Co. Handicap Hurdle, crowning a memorable weekend on Student Raceday in Galway for trainer Gavin Cromwell and rider Keith Donoghue.
“I got it nice in front and wanted to make it a proper test,” said Donoghue, having completed a Monday double which brought this weekend tally to five.
“It’s great for the lads that he’s won again over hurdles. He had a few problems after his win in the Pardubicka last year and we couldn’t get him right – in the circumstances, he did well to finish fourth at Cheltenham.
“The main aim will be the cross-country’ in Cheltenham in March (a race he won in 2025).”
Winning trainer Cromwell declared: “He’s a legend of a horse and I’m delighted. It was nice to see him doing that. We always had the option of going back over hurdles. This race popped up for him and Keith gave him a nice ride, he was able to fill him up, and I knew he’d stay going.
“His next run will be in a banks race at Punchestown early in December, on the road back to Cheltenham.”
The first leg of the Cromwell/Donoghue double had come when If You Believe, off the track for 354 days, landed the RED MILLS EBF Auction & Median Maiden Hurdle.
The grey jumped to the front at the fifth and, chased by favourite Coolishael going to the last, stayed on dourly for an emphatic win, prompting Cromwell to explain: “That was his minimum trip. I can see him going three miles in time. He picked up an injury in Clonmel last year but it might have been a blessing in disguise as he needed time. He’s still quite raw and will improve plenty.”
In the frame twice in Grade 1 bumpers last spring, Boycetown started 10/11 favourite to make a winning start over hurdles for Cromwell and Donoghue in the Corrib Oil Maiden Hurdle but had to share third spot behind the Gordon Elliott-trained Thinkitdontjinxit.
The winner was ridden by Jack Kennedy, who said: “We’ve been waiting for that ground. He loves it and did it well. He’ll come on for the run and should continue to progress.”
Arguably the classiest performance of the day came from 8/13 favourite Sharkeyboy, Paul Townend’s only bank holiday mount, in the QuinnBet 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle.
The Willie Mullins-trained gelding, rated 86 on the Flat, quickened well on the run-in to beat Fits Perfect by nine lengths.
“He had a good look at the first but put it together from there, once he got a lead," said Townend. "The leader was jumping left and only had one chance going to the last. He scooted through the gap and quickened up nicely up the hill. I think jumping will be his game.”
“It’s 18 years since I first rode in those colours, having my first ride in a Grade 1, on Hurricane Fly, a horse that did an awful lot for my career. This fellow probably won’t get to Hurricane Fly’s levels, but he was a solid horse on the Flat and I think jumping will improve him.”
Runner-up to Road To Home over course and distance three weeks ago, the Philip Fenton-trained Karl Des Tourelles opened his chasing account, at the sixth attempt, when outstaying King’s Bucks to land the opening SANSERV Rated Novice Chase, Sean Flanagan’s mount scoring by two and a quarter lengths.
“The trip was short of his best, but he likes that ground and, when he had to dig deep, he did,” said Fenton.
“He has a high rating, but this is only his second win. We might ride him differently in the future. And he’ll probably go for a handicap in Cork or Punchestown next month.”
The meeting ended on a high for the Gilligan family from nearby Craughwell as Paul completed a 220/1 double with Moonshine Girl and Rockonfamouslee in the last two National Hunt races at Ballybrit for 2026.
Moonshine Girl (Jody Townend) outstayed long-time leader Shotgun Jack to take the three-mile COLM QUINN BMW Handicap Hurdle while Rockonfamouslee gave the trainer’s son Ollie, now based with Sean and Donnacha Doyle in County Wexford, his first success under rules, holding off Patrick Mullins on Here’s Jim by a half-length.
The winning rider received a four-day whip ban.
