Cooper doubles up as Thunder strikes Bryan Cooper completed a double on the afternoon as Thunder And Roses ran out a decisive winner of the three-mile beginners chase at Fairyhouse. Not surprisingly stamina proved the key factor, and the seven-year-old has it in spades as he galloped on relentlessly in the straight. Sandra Hughes' charge drew clear from the front-running Katnap after two out, and the 15/8 chance kept on strongly in the testing conditions to score by 22 lengths. The Bosses Cousin was a further 16 lengths adrift in third, while 9/10 favourite Balbir Du Mathan made a number of mistakes and weakened after three out to finish a well-beaten fifth. Bryan Cooper was also on the mark in the 2m7f handicap hurdle on Old Time Melody, trained by his father Tom. Ms Hughes said, "That's good, he deserves that. He had some very good runs without winning, and is an out-and-out stayer. "He has the option of the four-miler at Cheltenham but we may train him for the Irish National. He's probably an Irish National horse and I think Gigginstown have another one for the four-miler. "He may run in something in between. He jumped well today and is much better over fences than he was over hurdles. He doesn't mind heavy ground." (GC & AM)
