Donoghue rides perfect waiting race to win on Strong Link Keith Donoghue rode the perfect waiting race on the Ross O'Sullivan trained Strong Link to run out an easy winner of the O'Driscolls Irish Whiskey Maiden Hurdle at Tipperary. Placed in three bumpers over the minimum trip, the gelding opened his account when stepping up to this trip to win his bumper at Wexford recently. Making his first start over hurdles here, Strong Link was held up off the pace as market leader Gorvitho took them along under Paul Townend. The latter came under pressure after jumping the fifth last, gradually dropping back through the field, as the Gordon Elliott pair Leave In Secret and Cosmos d'Ainay went on. Donoghue moved sixth on Strong Link after three out, before taking fourth early in the straight. As Cosmos d'Ainay cried enough after two out, Leave In Secret was joined in front by Coded Welder. However, Strong Link came through to head the pair after the final flight, going clear on the run-in to win readily by one-and-a-half lengths from Coded Welder. Ross O’Sullivan said: “He got the same ride from John Gleeson to win his bumper. He’s a classy horse but gets lairy if he gets there too soon and we learned that from his earlier bumpers. He pulls himself up a little bit in front. “Keith was impressed, and he just needs to tidy up his jumping a bit. He won with plenty in hand. “He’ll go novice hurdling now and the plan is to go for the two and a half miles on the Thursday at Galway. “He was bought from Jamie Codd and came well recommended. He’s fine, big, lovely looking horse.” Additional reporting by Alan Magee.
