The Ring Is King and Keith Donoghue took the 1st at Ballinrobe© Photo Healy Racing
The Ring Is King successful here under his trainer, Paul Flynn, on the level last month, put in a commendable effort in the Paddy Smyth Memorial Maiden Hurdle at Ballinrobe under Keith Donoghue, making most to take the two miler.
A couple of slight mistakes in the closing stages did little to halt the Jeremy (sire of Our Conor and yesterday's winner here, Only Exception – stands at Garryrichard Stud in Co. Wexford) gelding's momentum.
With a reduced advantage on the run-in, The Ring Is King kept going tenaciously to see off the favourite, Macbeth by a length and a quarter. Massini's Trap caught many an eye coming home well for third, a length adrift under his inexperienced pilot Thomas Doran (got a 50 day ban under Rule 212 a (i) running and riding enquiry report to follow).
Keith Donoghue divulged after his win: "He was very keen and so I said I'd let him bowl along in front. He kept at it well. He was very tough to do what he did." (DM & EM)
