Latest Exhibition leads over the last© Photo Healy Racing
Rachael Blackmore registered her first winner for trainer Paul Nolan at Galway today as she substituted for stood-down Bryan Cooper on winner Latest Exhibition in the Corrib Oil Maiden Hurdle.
Latest Exhibition was today scoring on seasonal reappearance and hurdles debut when staying on strongly on the run-in to fend off the challenge of 4/9 favourite Thatsy by four and a half lengths.
Jockey Cooper received an earlier fall from Amerijano in the 2.40pm race and while an initial shoulder injury was feared, IHRB medical officer Jennifer Pugh later reported "Bryan has been discharged from Galway University Hospital where x-rays came back clear. He will follow up with his own surgeon on Tuesday morning."
Following the win trainer Nolan stated “I think if it was softer he'd handle it better and while you couldn't call it impressive any of the hurdles he had to jump (three hurdles were bypassed due to low-lying sun) he was foot-perfect at every one.
“He is from a staying family and is out of a mare Aura About You who won a Listed hurdle and was third at Cheltenham to Quevega. I think he'll stay all day and I think he will improve a good bit from today.
“If you come out to the better tracks you are going to meet Envoi Allen and a better type of horse and while he was entered at Wexford, I thought the track would be too tight for him.
“Rachael said he was still immature and we'll see how he comes out of this but he could run in a Graded novice hurdle next.
“That's Rachael's first winner for me and she is brilliant but I feel sorry for Bryan (Cooper) who unfortunately has no luck at all at the moment.”
