Hot Cooper at the double

Cheltenham hero Bryan Cooper stole the show again in Wexford yesterday, completing a fine double on locally-trained Gates Of Rome and Blazing Beacon.

The victory of well-backed 3/1 favourite Blazing Beacon in the featured Bettyville Park Veterans Handicap Chase was particularly noteworthy as the eleven-year-old, trained by his breeder Frank McGuinness, was having his first run since scoring on this track back in October 2011.

Positively ridden by Cooper and jumping superbly, Blazing Beacon dictated the pace and had been joined by Benefical Spirit when making his only mistake, at the last. Headed briefly, he responded to Cooper’s driving and got up to land the spoils by a half-length.