Updated at 4.40pm
A YEAR TO the day after many feared he would never ride a racehorse again after suffering a double leg break at Cheltenham, Bryan Cooper is back in the winner’s enclosure following victory in the RSA Chase.
The 22-year old put in an impressive display of jumping aboard the 13/8 second favourite Don Poli in the colours of Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown House to come home ahead of Southfield Theatre (13/2) and Wounded Warrior (12/1).
With four to jump, Cooper produced an unbelievable clearance when he looked more likely to fall and never looked back from there to win comfortably and give Willie Mullins his fifth winner at this year’s festival.
Earlier, Windsor Park won the first race of the day, the Neptune Novices Hurdle.
Davy Russell ran a flawless race on the 9/2 shot to come home ahead of Parlour Games (13/2) and the favourite Nichols Canyon (7/2).
Russell said after the race that his mount had “jumped every hurdle really well, we never had an issue with stamina, it’s brilliant while trainer Dermot Weld was typically understated, telling Channel 4:
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Champion trainer Paul Nichols picked up his first win of this year’s festival in the Coral Cup as Sam Twiston-Davis guided 9/1 shot Aux Ptits Soins home ahead of Zabana (25/1) and Actival (17/2).
Russell secured his second winner of the day on Rivage Door (16/1) in the 3m 7f Cross Country Chase after a nasty incident between Toutancarmont and Quantitiveeasing went through a barrier, hitting a photographer.
With Dodging Bullets winning the day’s feature, Nichols secured his third winner of the day – a 1429/1 treble at that — when 25/1 shot Qualando romped home ahead of stablemate Bouveruil (14/1) to take the Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle.
The final race of the day, the Champion Bumper, went to the David Pipe trained favourite Moon Racer (9/2) who started the week at an incredible 18/1 before being backed right in.
RESULTS
1.30pm – Neptune Novices’ Hurdle
1st – Windsor Park (9/2)
2nd – Parlour Games (13/2)
3rd – Nichols Canyon (7/2 fav)
2.05pm – RSA Chase
1st – Don Poli (13/8)
2nd –Southfield Theatre (13/2)
3rd – Wounded Warrior (12/1)
2.40pm – Coral Cup
1st – Aux Ptits Soins (9/1)
2nd –Zabana (25/1)
3rd – Actival (17/2 fav)
4th — Taglietelle (14/1)
5th — Volnay De Thaix (18/1)
3.20pm – Queen Mother Champion Chase
1st – Dodging Bullets (9/2)
2nd – Somersby (33/1)
3rd – Special Tiara (18/1)
4.00pm – Cross Country Chase
1st — Rivage DOr (16/1)
2nd — Any Currency (7/1)
3rd — Uncle Junior (20/1)
4th — Dogora (20/1)
4.40pm – Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle
1st — Qualando (25-1)
2nd — Bouvreuil (14-1)
3rd — The Saint James (33-1)
4th — Starchitect (16-1)
5.15pm – Champion Bumper
1st — Moon Racer (9/2)
2nd — Modus (33/1)
3rd — Wait for me (9/1)
Might have missed it but did the IRFU ever clarify why Ireland is the only top tier nation, possibly one of the only rugby nations, that never invested in 7s? Is there actually a good reason? The 7s circuit is huge, a 7s event in Dublin would be class, it always attracts a crowd.
They did, they said that costs were too high and were better spent on the 15s game. It was David Nucifora that convinced them that it would be an effective pathway for developing players that may otherwise slip through. I’ve seen it suggested that they would have to be seen to be running a 7s program to help with the RWC2023 bid. Not sure about that one though.
There are 7s events in Ireland. Dublin 7s was about a month ago in Donnybrook. Then obviously there’s Kinsale 7s which has a big draw.
Think he meant a world series event
Spain got the last spot in the last second of the final against Samoa . They had beaten Ireland in the quarters . Ireland did well to get so far considering they have only one full season under their belts.
Definitely. Qualification for 2020 was always the goal so to get so close for 2016 is great encouragement.
Sean, what’s the story with Olympic qualification? Has that ship sailed or are we still in with a chance?
Spain got the last spot