Stumptown returns to winners' enclosure The Gavin Cromwell and Keith Donoghue duo completed another double at Galway when yard legend Stumptown, successful at the Cheltenham Festival and in the Velka Pardubicka last year, made all in the W.B. Gavin & Co. Handicap Hurdle over two and three-quarter miles. It was a smooth race for Stumptown who led throughout and, with his stamina in abundance, managed to get a breather at the right times, which was crucial. With a clinical display of jumping throughout, the nine-year-old stuck on well and was a strong seven-length winner from Balko D'ange. Trainer Cromwell, who also teamed up with Donoghue for a double at Galway on Sunday, said: "He is a legend, but I didn't expect that, to be honest, as he was off for a long time.. Keith gave him a lovely ride and got a fill into him. "A new rule which was brought in last year allowed the handicapper to put him up from his original mark (of 116, back in April 2022) to 127, but he could have put him up higher, to be fair. I really didn't know what to expect today. "It is great to have him back, and this is a bonus before going for a banks race in Punchestown in early December. Cheltenham is his target again in March, although he is unlikely to go back for the Grand National." Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
