Chill in the first-time blinkers stayed on best under Bryan Cooper to win an eventful opening maiden hurdle at Leopardstown for trainer Dessie Hughes.
Loose horses Sportsmaster and Hisaabaat who both fell) caused havoc by jumping right at numerous hurdles especially at the last but Cooper kept his charge up to his work to win by two-and-a-half-lengths at odds of 8/1. He had been backed from 11/1 to 8/1 in the morning.
Gordon Elliott’s Discoteca (4/1) came home second and Joanna Morgan’s To The Sky completed the placings at 14/1. Sarabad was sent off 7/4 favourite for Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh but after leading throughout he faded out of contention from two out to finish seventh.
With Dessie Hughes recuperating after having an operation on his back last week, jockey Bryan Cooper commented afterwards: “Chill travelled well and jumped well and the blinkers woke him up a bit. He wanted that bit of nicer ground.”
Sean Graham gave the winner a quote of 33/1 for the Triumph Hurdle.
Michael Graham
