First Grade 1 for Keith Donoghue
Meath jockey Keith Donoghue landed his first Grade 1 winner at Limerick today in the Matchbook Betting Exchange Novice Chase on the Gordon Elliott-trained Hardline.
The win was all the sweeter for Donoghue as he edged out the Ruby Walsh-partnered favourite Getabird which made a costly mistake at the last.
That gave Donoghue an opening and he urged Hardline to the front and won by half-a-length.
"I have missed a couple of Grade 1s through weight and getting taken off ones and with injury so it's great to get that first one,commented Donoghue in a post-race interview.
“I knew I was going well but you never know with Ruby what he is holding on to but I got a good jump at the second last and I squeezed him down to the last.
"I knew if I got a good jump there that I would have every chance," he added.
The win provided some consolation for trainer Elliott who had nine other placed finishers (second and third) from 31 runners today.