Jack Cool defied the handicapper in the Gowran Christmas Party Meeting 10th December Handicap Hurdle, shrugging off a 17Ib rise in the weights for an easy Listowel success, by scoring here by half a length under Matthew Bowes.

The winning son of One Cool Cat, equipped with cheek-pieces, got the better of Lancetto in the closing stages with a further half length back to the third placed Binocular

Winning trainer Charles Byrnes said: "He is only a four-year-old but he handles the ground and jumps well. He is a tremendous jumper for his age. He might go back to novice company now where he'd have the four-year-old weight allowance."