Coolfighter and David Splaine (far-side) holds on from Our Brian (centre) and Rendezvous Peak© Photo Healy Racing
Noel Dooly recently featured in a nice piece in the Irish Field detailing his background and training set-up. His great servant Coolfighter did a further favour for the County Waterford native, and his owners, the Cool Boys Partnership, with success in the Downe Travel & Best Dressed Lady Win A Luxury Trip To New York Handicap Hurdle at Downpatrick.
It was desperate for the Black Sam Bellamy chestnut at the finish and it looked like that he'd been 'done,' by one of the 'finishers,' Our Brian or Rendezvous Peak
Our Brian was favoured in the photo finish by many, but as the print clearly showed the David Splaine-ridden Coolfighter had edged the verdict by a nose and a short head.
Our Brian, and favourite, Rendezvous Peak (9/4 into 15/8), were in the silver and bronze medal positions.
Coolfighter was winning his fourth hurdle race in succession and Dooly said: "I thought we were only third! He was on his last legs, two five is stretching him. He (David Splaine) said once he saw the hill he was just on empty. He pulls very hard. I didn't think we were up, he was half a length up with five strides to go.
"That's four in-a-row for him now - he won in Tramore and that was his Cheltenham last time! He left a bit of grub behind him on the Friday and Saturday so I didn't bring him back to Tramore on the Sunday.
"I've been wanting to try him over two and a half, two five and half a furlong is a bit far for him. Definitely two and a half he would get well. In the November Handicap he was only beaten three lengths by Clondaw Warrior a couple of years ago. He does stay and he'll get it on a flat track.
"It was worth the trip up. It's his last time in a 0-116 so I thought I might as well have a go at it. He's in at Kilbeggan on Friday over two and a half. We'll see how he is in the next couple of days and he might go to Listowel after that."
(MG & EM)
