Donohue breaks marathon cold spell

Carlow-based trainer Tom Donohue landed his first winner on the track since 2003 when Followmeuptocarlow and Bryan Cooper took the two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle at Down Royal.

The 10/1 chance put in a great jump at the last that enabled him to run out the three lengths winner over Miss Xian (16/1). Donttellmother (4/1) came in third, two-and-a-quarter-lengths back.

Trainer Tom Donohoe said: He did it nicely. He’s been off a year and a half. He pulled too hard last time and had nothing left. Bryan dropped him in today and he settled better.

“It took us four hours up from Carlow. We didn’t kill ourselves. It’s my first time here and I have four horses in training at the minute.”

The 10/3 favourite, Essexbridge came in seventh of the 13 runners. Jockey Paul Townend said his horse was never travelling.

Cankirk was the gamble of the race from 16/1 to 8/1 at the track, having been 50/1 in the morning, but he could only manage 11th.

Michael Graham