Coote scoots to summer glory

Cootehill defied a 5lb penalty for a recent success when capturing the totescoop6 Summer Hurdle at Market Rasen.

Paddy Brennan brought Nigel Twiston-Davies’ in-form gelding to challenge at the second-last flight and the 13-2 shot steadily pulled clear of Danehill Willy and Tony McCoy to win by two and a quarter lengths.

Ameeq stayed on strongly to dead-heat for second place with Danehill Willy.

“I’ve been racing three times since I went back with Nigel and we’ve had three winners,” said the Naunton trainer’s assistant Carl Llewellyn.

“He travelled well and is an improving sort and I imagine Nigel will keep him going until he goes off the boil.

“We were a bit worried after his run at Stratford the other day that this race might come a bit quick for him, but he was very well and when you have got a horse in form you might as well take a chance.

“In fact he was among the entries for a £10,000 race back at Stratford tomorrow but we thought we may as well come here for the bigger money.”