Cooper is King half-an-hour on

Bryan Cooper gained compensation for his unseat from Asiya in the 3.10 when half-an-hour later he guided The Shepherd King to a good success for his father Tom in the CCTV Venue Control Maiden Hurdle at Galway.

A point-to-point and bumper winner in the past for his owner/breeder, Noel Collins (Tralee native living in Mullingar), the Marignan gelding arrived with his challenge travelling well and once sent about his business from the last he stayed on well to account for Start Me Up by a length and a quarter. Frisco Depot (7s into 9/2) was a neck back in third.

Cooper senior said: "He is a nice horse that travels and idles when he hits the front. He had loads in the tank and jumped for fun. He doesn't take a lot of racing so he'll go for the Royal Bond now and then get a break. He stays well too."