Donoghue and Cromwell dominate as Faith Du Val strolls home in mares' chase

Wednesday: Sligo

Keith Donoghue and Gavin Cromwell took the plaudits at Sligo’s penultimate meeting of the year, with a treble and a double respectively.

The pair got the afternoon off to the perfect start with Faith Du Val running out a 15-length winner of the opening mares beginners' chase at 7-2.

The daughter of No Risk At All was suited by the strong pace and her task was made easier when her nearest pursuer Hidden Land fell at the final fence.

Cromwell said: “She had been jumping great at home and was in brilliant nick. She won her maiden hurdle here so we knew she'd handle the place. The ground was ideal and the good gallop suited her. Hopefully she can keep improving.”

Gavin Cromwell: saddled a double at Sligo on WednesdayCredit: Patrick McCann

The pair were back in the winner's enclosure after Broken Ice showed a good attitude to win for the first time over fences in the 2m5f beginners' chase and justify 2-1 favouritism, and Cromwell is now tempted to try the Born To Sea gelding over further.

“He’s been banging on the door and was entitled to win with his chase mark," Cromwell said. "He stays well and will definitely stay further, and may even prefer slower ground.”

The third leg of Donoghue’s treble came on the performance of the day via the Tom McCourt-trained Dollar Value, who followed up his easy Downpatrick win off 14lb higher in the 2m1f handicap chase.

Dollar Value pulled well clear of the field with Bold Emperor for company, but Donoghue was always in command on the seven-year-old who galloped easily away from his rival after the last to run out a ten-length winner.

Connections are now eyeing some big-race targets for the autumn and McCourt said: “He’s in a great vein of form at the minute. We're going to be well up in the weights now so we're going to go for the Grade 2 Champion Chase at Gowran Park next month. He's match fit and some horses will be coming back from a break. The end plan is to go to Cheltenham in November.

“Keith gets on great with him. He does things on his own terms and he's a great horse to train. I wouldn’t mind a few more like him.”

Yank on top

The Little Yank landed the feature 2m5f conditions chase in good style under Kevin Brouder, running out a four-length winner.

Trainer John Ryan said: “He’s a smashing horse. His main aim is Listowel and I ran him here to get him ready, but he obviously improved plenty from his work during the week. Kevin gave him a peach of a ride. He has a bit of class.”

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