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Alan Magee

Alan Magee

Cooper/Gigginstown double up with Respect

Thu 11th Feb 2016, 16:36

Road To Respect and Bryan CooperRoad To Respect and Bryan Cooper
© Photo Healy Racing

Bryan Cooper completed a quick-fire double in his retained Gigginstown colours as Road To Respect took the Cashel Maiden Hurdle at Thurles.

The 8/11 favourite made most of the running and generally jumped well in this 2m6f affair but needed to dig deep after a mistake at the final flight. Inch Rise pinged that flight to give him a chance but the Eoin Griffin-trained gelding found more when driven right out by Cooper to score by a length. Sizinguptheamazon could find no extra approaching the last, and was a further eight lengths back in third.

Cooper was successful on another odds-on chance, Burgas (4/6), in the previous two-mile maiden hurdle.

Road To Respect landed his only point-to-point start in fine style at Monksgrange, and was placed on all three previous hurdle outings including when runner-up to Yorkhill at Punchestown.

Griffin said, “That was grand to get it and I'm delighted but to be honest I didn't think at the start of the season that I'd be waiting until February to win a maiden hurdle win him.

"He is a nice horse for the future but is still a bit weak behind the saddle and we'll mind him for the rest of the season. He could run next in the 2m4f Grade 2 at Fairyhouse before then running at Punchestown.

"Bryan said to drop him in trip as he was a bit keen going slower over that trip."

(TW & AM)

1st
4/6Fav
Tote €1.60 €1.02
2nd
9.5L
66/1
€6.20
3rd
3.25L
9/2
€2.30
4th
8.5L
100/1
About Alan Magee
Alan has worked in the racing industry for well over 30 years including with the Sporting Life, Turform and Irish Racing Services. He took up his current role as Irish Racing Team Leader with the Press Association in 2013. He has a keen interest in most sports and plays golf.