St Denis's Well (Jack Kennedy) winning at Down Royal last month© Photo Healy Racing
Ian Donoghue recorded a first double under Rules at Down Royal yesterday with O’Faolains Glory and Tankardstown Diva and he also outlined plans for St Denis’s Well who has provided half of the Clonalvy yard’s eight winners this season.
The six-year-old has given the Declans Bar Syndicate some great days out winning a 22-runner handicap hurdle on Troytown Chase day at their local track in Navan before switching to fences for three further victories.
The Famous Name gelding has seen his chase mark rise by 30lb up to a rating of 121 for the trio of wins and connections are now dreaming of bigger targets later this year.
Donoghue, older brother of Cheltenham Festival winning rider Keith, said: "We'll give him a long holiday as he had a busy enough year with eight runs. He had four wins and was only out of the money once.
“Jack (Kennedy) said the last run was just one run too many. He has gone over the top, and deserves his break - he earned it well.
"We will probably leave him and bring him back in for the autumn. He is still growing - he's a funny horse, he's only kind of developing.
"We still have a mark of 91 over hurdles.
"Ideally, we might try and sneak him in at the bottom of the Troytown. He owes the boys nothing now, so you can start dreaming. The boys would be all local to Navan, so it would be a great day out."
Quotes by Michael Graham
