Well backed Kopookris wins with help from lady luck

Nicely supported Kopookris gained a fortuitous win when left in front by a couple of fallers at the final fence in the Exit 6 To Horse & Jockey Handicap Chase at Thurles today. Teacher's Pet and Positive Approach appeared to have it between them as they battled it out going to the last in the extended two mile five furlong contest.

However both came to grief independently leaving the Denis O'Regan-ridden Kopookris (impeded at the final fence himself) to fight off Fire In His Eyes by a length and a half.

Thankfully all seemed okay after the final fence drama.

Kopookris halved in price from 14/1 into 7/1 at the track, and there were fancier prices about in earlier trading.

Dominic Jones owns and bred Kopookris, and in-form handler Liam Cusack does the training. Cusack had a winner at Dundalk on Friday night with Bog War.

"He got a bit lucky I suppose but to be honest I wasn't sure if he'd handle the ground and was in two minds whether to run him this morning," revealed Cusack.

"It was his first run in a handicap and I left him take his chance. When I looked down through it, it didn't look a wonderful race and I thought he had a nice enough mark.

"He's a fine horse but is a big baby and frets a bit, so the more match practice he gets the better he'll be."

M.P. Walsh, rider of Vent De La Cote (FR) trained by Martin Brassil, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount burst a blood vessel.

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Vent De La Cote (FR), trained by Martin Brassil, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to have blood at the nose following exercised induced pulmonary haemorrhage.

(TW & EM)