Keith Donoghue could do no wrong at Galway, riding Simply Natural (5/2), Ole Ole (11/4) and 25/1 shot Always Scoring to victory

Keith Donoghue said a few choice words from a legendary jockey helped inspire him to a 340/1 treble at Galway on Sunday.

The Meath jockey has been in sensational form of late for the Gavin Cromwell yard. And Donoghue could do no wrong at Galway, riding Simply Natural (5/2), Ole Ole (11/4) and 25/1 shot Always Scoring to victory.

But no man is above a little constructive criticism, and after winning on Always Scoring, Donoghue revealed that fellow Meath man Paul Carberry had been keeping a close eye on his riding.

Donoghue told Racing TV: "Paul was in the house last night giving out to me about a few things, so hopefully he is watching the racing today," Donoghue said.

Asked what Carberry had been giving out about, Donoghue said: "He said he was getting there too soon on a few [horses] lately.

"He doesn't say much, but when it does, it hurts the heart, so I hope he was watching that."

Carberry retired from race riding in 2016 after a long and storied career in the saddle. The Meath man was renowned for holding his horses up before producing perfectly timed late challenges.

And Donoghue has often spoken about how he grew up idolising Carberry, who has become something of a mentor to him.

"I looked up to him — he was like God to me and still is," Donoghue said.

Donoghue, 36, followed up his treble at Galway on Sunday with a double on Bank Holiday Monday.

He steered 11/4 shot If You Believe to a comfortable victory before guiding former Cheltenham Festival winner Stumptown (7/1) to an impressive handicap success.

Stumptown's victory even surprised his trainer, Gavin Cromwell.

Cromwell said: “He is a legend but I didn’t expect that to be honest as he was off for a long time, so I didn’t really know. 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 English Grand National.”