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Treble for Cooper & double for Nolan with Park

Castafiore Park and Bryan Cooper pictured on their way to victoryCastafiore Park and Bryan Cooper pictured on their way to victory
© Photo Healy Racing

Bryan Cooper notched a treble on the day at Wexford and it was a double for trainer Paul Nolan when Castafiore Park ran out a game winner of the Freddie Doyle & Liz Doyle Handicap Hurdle.

The 8/1 shot was handy throughout in the three-miler and Cooper drove her into the lead jumping the second last.

She was pressed hard on the run-in but had enough up her sleeve to hold Toushan by half a length with just head back to Benefit Of Magic

The winner had taken a maiden hurdle at Limerick in March but was well held in handicap company at Fairyhouse last time.

Nolan said:-"I was disappointed with her in Fairyhouse. I thought off her mark that she might run into a place. She never travelled and didn't jump well, she was on her head the whole way.

“I couldn't find anything wrong with her and we thought it might have been the end of a long season. It wasn't a long season today anyway!

"Bryan was very good on her. He kept her out nice and wide. I thought when they went so slow that if a few passed her she might chuck it in a bit.

“He was able to hold his position, he gave her a kick coming down the hill and was able to stretch it. She saw it out well to the line.

"I'm hoping she'll be far better over a fence. She won a point-to-point easily. Then we decided to keep her rather than go to the sales. I think she'll be better over a fence.

"I'd say we will leave her off now. I don't want to be going around guessing about ground. You can't keep them going the whole time, and I'd like to be bringing in a few with a chance for next season."

(Quotes by Donal Murphy)

About Gary Carson
Gary started out as a trainee/assistant journalist with the Sporting Life newspaper and has worked in the racing industry for over 25 years. He has been with the Press Association since 2013 and won the Irish Field Nap Table in 2016. He enjoys working with horses and trained his own horse, Mamaslittlestar, to win a point-to-point in 2019.