Butcher Hollow a nice prospect for the Coopers

Trainer Tom Cooper and his son Bryan have a nice youngster on their hands in the shape of Butcher Hollow who made a winning debut under rules in the COLM QUINN BMW (C & G) (Pro/Am) Flat Race.

Bought for £200,000 at Cheltenham in February shortly after easily winning a Tallow point-to-point for Con McSweeney, the 11/4 chance raced in second before improving to dispute the lead with half a mile left to race. Pushed along to go a couple of lengths clear coming out of the dip, the winner was ridden out by Darragh Allen to beat The Other Mozzie and Tactical Affair by four and half lengths and a nose.

Bryan Cooper said: "I thought he looked visually impressive when he won his point to point and thankfully Ciaran (Mooney, from Dublin) and John (Ryan, Nenagh) joined forces to buy him; the morning before the sale John said he'd jump in to buy him and we're delighted.

"We've had positive vibes with him from day one and after buying him last season we kept him in training until Punchestown. However the ground went so it was the right thing to do to put him away."

He added "Kingston Hill (stallion) was a bit quiet at the time of his sale and I'd say that's why we got him for the price we did. Six weeks later he'd have cost another 100,000, as they are very hard to buy.

"He is only a four year old and we'll sit down and talk with the lads and see what they want to do next. We won't rush into any plans but they wanted a horse to get them to the Cheltenham festival"

Quotes from Tom Weekes