Cooper times it just right on Raz De Maree
The seven-year-old, winner of his ‘beginners’ in Wexford in July and having only his fifth outing over fences, forged clear on the run-in to triumph by six-and-a-half lengths.
A delighted Hughes stated: “He’s not big, but jumps like a natural. I always thought there was a big day in him. This sort of handicap, with a light weight, was ideal for him, We might head for the Troytown next.”
Ruby Walsh and trainer Tony Martin were in double form, sharing the convincing victory of four-year-old filly Mulleady in the opening Isobel Boutique Adare Hurdle.
Walsh gave the Willie Mullins-trained mare Zuzka a supremely confident ride to land the Grade 3 Fergus O’Toole Memorial Novices Hurdle impressively, the Flemensfirth mare quickening clear in great style to slam Tony Martin’s Dara Tango by eleven lengths. Zuzka, which has campaigned through the summer, was a first graded winner for the Supreme Horse Racing Club.
Tony Martin completed his double when the Robbie Power-ridden 16/1 shot Sraid Padraig, in the colours of Barry Connell., proved a shock winner of the first division of the beginners chase. The second division went to the Tom Taaffe-trained four-year-old Argocat, ridden by Andrew McNamara.
The other Grade 3 event on the card, the PricewaterhouseCoopers Chase went to the Mag Mullins-trained Down In Neworleans, ridden by her son Danny, following the dramatic exit of Knockfierna at the second last. Charles Byrnes’ mare ducked right and ran out — just as she did against Sir Des Champs last Christmas. Down In Neworleans is now unbeaten in four starts over fences.
In the handicap action, the Jimmy Mangan-trained Don’t Tell Pa, ridden again by trainer’s daughter Jane, followed-up his Tramore success on Thursday in the Greenmount Park Handicap Hurdle while John Supple’s Roadtoabbeyfeale built on his Listowel win when landing a gamble under Eddie O’Connell in the Oakbruce Properties Handicap Hurdle before surviving a Stewards Enquiry.
