Cooper and Sugrue double up at festival Trainer Tom Cooper and jockey Ross Sugrue bagged their second wins of the week when Potters Pal pulled away in good style on the long run-in to take the Paud Fitzmaurice Memorial Handicap Chase at Listowel. With the final two fences omitted due to low lying sun it was a long run home for Potters Pal after he hit the front entering the straight. The 5/1 shot galloped on strongly in the closing stages to post a three-and-a-half length success over 7/2 favourite Gaelic Des Chastys. An emotional Gerry Mangan, whose family is the Kingdom Red Syndicate and who assists trainer Cooper, said "It was last-minute getting in as a second reserve today and my voice is gone now! "He ran a cracker here on Wednesday when finishing third and we took our chance by running today. Ross rode point to point winners for me. "I'm coming to Listowel races all my life and this is just amazing. "I have my trainers' course done so am waiting for the paperwork to go through before having horses to run in my own name. "I'm hanging around with Tom (Cooper) for years and rode a share of winners for him. He has a good job done with this horse as he is highly-strung although has the engine. "When I do get my license, I'll keep my operation quite small and will mostly have point-to-pointers to sell. I don't want to get too big because it is very hard to get staff down this side of the country. "This win is what it's all about." Sugrue was making it two wins in two days while Cooper had landed the bumper here on Wednesday with the impressive New Grange. (Quotes by Tom Weekes)
