Coolfighter claims 12th career success

It is two years since Coolfighter was claimed at Tramore’s August festival and Noel Dooly’s locally trained gelding today landed his sixth win since, taking the O'Neills Bar Rated Novice Hurdle for a third consecutive win over hurdles.

Coolfighter, who began life with five wins in his native Germany, was claimed by Dooly for E10,000 on August 11 2014 following his win at the venue and having won again two days later, today was winning his 12th career win and his sixth win for his current connections. Today’s rider David Splaine was also successful on the gelding in his handicap hurdle wins at Wexford and Gowran in June.

Dooly today stated “that's three in-a-row over hurdles for him now. He was lame after Killarney and was very lame for three or four days after that and I actually thought he was gone.

“I nursed him back and he hadn't done any work until now, that was his first bit. That should set him up for Sunday hopefully and he'll come back for the 0-123 (handicap hurdle).

"David said he got a little bit tired after the last but I'd expect that out of him. He missed a full week after Killarney, and we were only trotting him the week after that. We had to come here, they all wanted him to come here so I had no choice! He loves this place. We will see how he is in the morning and hopefully he'll back on Sunday."

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Donal Murphy