Well backed Beacon completes Cooper double

After recording three winners at Cheltenham Bryan Cooper continued his excellent run of form as he completed a double at Wexford this afternoon aboard Blazing Beacon (early scored aboard Gates Of Rome in the feature Bettyville Park Veterans Handicap Chase.

Having opened at 11/2 last night with Paddy Powers, the Frank McGuinness trained 11yo was well backed and went from 9/2 into 3/1 clear favourite on-course.

The son of Luso (second winner of the afternoon for that sire after Gates Of Rome) made all the running and despite being joined on the run-in by the Philip Rothwell trained Beneficial Spirit (9/2), he pulled out more close home to win by half a length at the line.

The front pair went fifteen lengths clear of On The Way Out who finished third for John Kiely and Danny Mullins at 7/1 while early morning favourite Lastoftheleaders drifted all the way out to 11/2 and finished sixth.

Both De Valira and Head Waiter were both reluctant to line up at the start and the duo were subsequently withdrawn.

Frank McGuinness, who trains outside Enniscorthy, said afterwards: "He did a tendon when he won here the last time and I didn’t think I could have him ready enough after 505 days off.

"He was always a great jumper and Bryan said had he jumped the last better he would have won handy enough.

"I have him in the Irish Grand National but we’ll see how he comes out of this first. Hopefully he’ll be ok in the morning and he likes good ground."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee