Son Amix put the disappointment of unseating Bryan Cooper in the Grade 1 novices chase at Leopardstown three days ago behind him when winning Punchestown’s beginners chase.
Bryan Cooper was again on board and he tracked Fully Funded and Soll throughout from four out before getting on top of the latter after a battle from the final flight in the three mile race.
He was returned at 7/4 second favourite, having been 9/4 in the morning, and won by a neck from 9/2 shot Soll who was easy to back on course from an opening show of 7/2.
Punters sent off Noel Meade’s Fully Funded as 6/5 favourite of the seven runners and he occupied third place after three runners up finishes in-a-row including one in a Navan Grade 2. He led throughout but found no extra after the last.
The winner gave
Thomas Cooper family a success as jockey Bryan’s father Thomas trains him. He said: “He deserved that. All of mine have run well but have had no luck over Christmas.
“He tipped up in the Fort Leney at Leopardstown but he was going to be wherever Allee Garde was [third] and we saw he well he ran.
“I don’t know where we go next but I would say that’s his trip though he would probably prefer better ground. He’s probably a bit short of RSA class.”
Thomas Cooper now has a strike-rate of 25% in chases at Punchestown.
Michael Graham
