D Art D Art switches on to good effect

Jerisk Star was worn down close home by D Art D Art in the P.J. Foley Memorial INH Flat Race.

The former attempted to make all and had his rivals off the bridle as he increased the pressure in the home straight.

D Art D Art was ridden into second in the final quarter of a mile by Patrick Mullins and the pair stuck to their task.

Jerisk Star gave him a chance in the closing stages and D Art D Art pounced to collar him for a length victory at 8/1.

Jerisk Star went off at 5/1 and was 19 lengths clear of third-placed Ankud (4/5f).

Trainer Tom Cooper said: "At one stage I thought 'jeez what's happening here, this fella must be sick or something!'. I thought it was all over, but he just is so laid-back. After the line, he went down the back and he couldn't pull him up.

"It was an extraordinary performance as I thought it was lights out but, whatever in the name of God, when he gave him a squeeze and a tap, he went on."

He added: "Bryan (Cooper, son) rode him in a schooling hurdle at Tipperary in November and he is will be twice the horse over hurdles. He loves that ground and the obvious race for him now is the Listed four-year-old bumper at Limerick in March. He'll go jumping next season.

"He is owned by a really loyal owner Ciaran Mooney, from Dublin, and is back with me and has a few lovely horses now."

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes