Coole Avenue, right, gets up to beat Caduceus at Galway© Photo Healy Racing
Bryan Cooper rode a double at Galway as he brought 11/4 favourite Coole Avenue home for his father Thomas in the two mile six handicap hurdle.
Coole Avenue had won over three miles at Listowel on heavy ground back in September and he saw out every yard of today’s trip when coming from rear to score.
Cooper only hit the front alongside Tim Carroll on board Caduceus (10/1) at the last. The pair settled down to fight out the spoils, but Coole Avenue got on top to prevail by half a length. Dingaling and Two In A Row both at 7/1, rewarded each way punters in third and fourth respectively in this 16-runner handicap.
Tom Cooper said: “He’s good and tough and Bryan gave him a nice ride. I thought the 7lb penalty might have beaten him, but maybe he had a little bit left.
“He’ll probably jump a fence soon. The owner (Brendan Cocoman) is anxious to go for a three mile Listed handicap hurdle on the Saturday at Cheltenham’s November meeting.”
(Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes)
