Half century & another double for Hughes

Dessie Hughes and Bryan Cooper completed a double in the space of half-an-hour at Clonmel when Schinkel took division two of the Slievenamon Maiden Hurdle.

The same combination had earlier landed division one with the well-backed Datokepe and the double put the Curragh trainer on the 50 winner mark for the season.

The Hughes/Cooper team have been in great form recently, having also completed a double at Limerick last Sunday, but Schinkel was allowed to go off an unconsidered 25/1 chance in this two mile event.

The Subtle Power gelding was only fifth approaching the second last but made smooth headway to challenge between horses at the last, and stayed on well for eighteen-year-old Cooper to beat Luke's Benefit by four lengths with Dr Anubis weakening on the run-in a further neck back in third.

Dr Anubis' jockey Mick Darcy was given a two day suspension for careless riding after his mount was adjudged to have caused interference to the runner-up in the straight.

In-form Hughes, who saddles Vic Venturi and In Compliance in the John Smith's Grand National at Aintree on Saturday, has teamed up with Cooper for six winners in the past week.