Guitar Pete hits all the right notes

Guitar Pete made a successful transition from flat racing to hurdling as he took the three-year-old hurdle over two miles at Listowel for Dessie Hughes and Bryan Cooper.

He may not be another Our Conor, but he showed a good attitude and jumped well to win by two and a half lengths at 12/1 in his first jumping assignment. He travelled well and picked off Lindenhurst at the last with a quick fluent jump there. Seeyouallincoppers (13/2) cut out the running but had to settle for third after he was collared on the home turn by 4/1 joint favourite Lindenhurst who came in second.

“We always thought a lot of him from day one when he schooled as a two-year-old. He really took to them [hurdles] from an early stage,” Bryan Cooper explained.

“He shows lots at home and I couldn’t believe how badly he ran on the flat. He’s by Dark Angel who’s a speed horse, but he’s a different horse over hurdles.

“He ran around a bit in front and he’s learning the whole time, but he’s still very babyish.”

This was Cooper’s second winner on his third ride back from injury.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes