2 for Cooper as King lands a punt

Backed from double figure odds this morning into a dispute of favouritism at a price of 7/2, King Vuvuzela landed the Festival Earlybird Deals On punchestown.com Handicap Chase with the minimum of fuss to provide Bryan Cooper with a double.

Cooper, earlier on the mark aboard Captain Arceus in the first, cantered into contention aboard King Vuvuzela, a horse he described as "very good jumper" and Paul Nolan's charge was going to win barring accidents from some way out, eventually triumphing by four and three parts of a length from the gallant top-weight Black Benny

"He's been a very disappointing horse overall although he's now won three times here.

"He looked a good horse when he won his bumper here and he then dead-heated with Allure Of Illusion (when that one went off at 1/5).

"We train him from the field and he came here fresh off a mark of 102.

"It probably suits him best being fresh," explained Nolan in the aftermath.

Victorious owners, the Red Menace Syndicate include John Rogers, son of the late bookmaker Terry, who went by that moniker. (AM & EM)