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Dunshaughlin man Donoghue's career goes from strength-to-strength
Friday, 06 February 2026
Keith Donoghue after winning at Fairyhouse
Davy Russell might have been the man on board for both of Tiger Roll's Grand National victories, but it was Keith Donoghue who moulded the legend.
Dunshaughlin man Donoghue steered him to success in a hat-trick of Cross Country Chases at Cheltenham in 2018, 2019 and 2021. He taught him everything he knew and formed an unbreakable bond with the pint-sized pocket rocket who will go down in history as one of the greatest steeplechasers of the modern era.
Six of Tiger Roll's last seven wins came at either Cheltenham or Aintree, but the other one was on home soil at Navan - the day Proudstown came alive for the Boyne Hurdle of 2019.
Would you believe Tiger Roll was sent off at 25-1 that day? It seems bonkers now and those who had a sentimental fiver on the world's most famous horse were rewarded in spades as Donoghue cruised up on the outside of Cracking Smart in between the final two flight and kicked clear for an impressive four-length success.
"This is going to be one popular success," said course commentator Jerry Hannon as he approached the line. You can say that again, Jerry. Racegoers sprinted down to the winners' enclosure to cheer him in and Donoghue can still remember the reception he got.
"It was a magic day," Donoghue recalled. "He was a legend of a horse and we were just hoping he would run well that day to set him up for Cheltenham and the Grand National, but to win was a big bonus. We weren't expecting it at all.
"Everybody loved Tiger Roll. He had his own personality and everyone felt like they owned a part of him. He was the public's horse and the roar when I came back into the parade ring that day at Navan was something else."
Boyne Hurdle day at Navan remains a huge occasion and there have been top-class winners of it over the years. Indeed, Cheltenham Gold Cup hero War Of Attrition won it in 2o1o, Voler La Vedette was successful in 2011, Dubguib in 2014 and Snow Falcon for Noel Meade in 2016. The race has a superb roll of honour and it will be interesting to see who adds their name to that coveted list on Sunday.
As for Donoghue, his career goes from strength-to-strength. Just last October, he landed the world famous Velka Pardubicka in the Czech Republic on Stumptown, who will return to Cheltenham in March to defend his Cross Country Chase crown. That is a race Donoghue has made his own over the years and he will be chasing victory number six in it next month. That's an incredible claim to fame.
He has celebrated Grade 1 wins on Hardline, The Storyteller and Hello Neighbour and become a vital cog in Gavin Cromwell's machine.
More Cheltenham Festival success is a foregone conclusion and, according to the Racing Post's Johnny Dineen, Donoghue is "up there among the top three riders in either Ireland or Britain."
Racing idol: Paul Carberry
Favourite horse: The Storyteller
First winner: Nino Cochise at Listowel in 2009
Horse to watch out for: Barnpark
Dunshaughlin man Donoghue steered him to success in a hat-trick of Cross Country Chases at Cheltenham in 2018, 2019 and 2021. He taught him everything he knew and formed an unbreakable bond with the pint-sized pocket rocket who will go down in history as one of the greatest steeplechasers of the modern era.
Six of Tiger Roll's last seven wins came at either Cheltenham or Aintree, but the other one was on home soil at Navan - the day Proudstown came alive for the Boyne Hurdle of 2019.
Would you believe Tiger Roll was sent off at 25-1 that day? It seems bonkers now and those who had a sentimental fiver on the world's most famous horse were rewarded in spades as Donoghue cruised up on the outside of Cracking Smart in between the final two flight and kicked clear for an impressive four-length success.
"This is going to be one popular success," said course commentator Jerry Hannon as he approached the line. You can say that again, Jerry. Racegoers sprinted down to the winners' enclosure to cheer him in and Donoghue can still remember the reception he got.
"It was a magic day," Donoghue recalled. "He was a legend of a horse and we were just hoping he would run well that day to set him up for Cheltenham and the Grand National, but to win was a big bonus. We weren't expecting it at all.
"Everybody loved Tiger Roll. He had his own personality and everyone felt like they owned a part of him. He was the public's horse and the roar when I came back into the parade ring that day at Navan was something else."
Boyne Hurdle day at Navan remains a huge occasion and there have been top-class winners of it over the years. Indeed, Cheltenham Gold Cup hero War Of Attrition won it in 2o1o, Voler La Vedette was successful in 2011, Dubguib in 2014 and Snow Falcon for Noel Meade in 2016. The race has a superb roll of honour and it will be interesting to see who adds their name to that coveted list on Sunday.
As for Donoghue, his career goes from strength-to-strength. Just last October, he landed the world famous Velka Pardubicka in the Czech Republic on Stumptown, who will return to Cheltenham in March to defend his Cross Country Chase crown. That is a race Donoghue has made his own over the years and he will be chasing victory number six in it next month. That's an incredible claim to fame.
He has celebrated Grade 1 wins on Hardline, The Storyteller and Hello Neighbour and become a vital cog in Gavin Cromwell's machine.
More Cheltenham Festival success is a foregone conclusion and, according to the Racing Post's Johnny Dineen, Donoghue is "up there among the top three riders in either Ireland or Britain."
Racing idol: Paul Carberry
Favourite horse: The Storyteller
First winner: Nino Cochise at Listowel in 2009
Horse to watch out for: Barnpark