Lady lifts gloom for Coopers

Bargain basement purchase Lisard Lady picked a fine time to cause a 16/1 upset and win the Foran Equine Irish EBF Auction Maiden at Down Royal, as she ended a long losing run for her trainer Tom Cooper on the day it was announced his son Bryan Cooper will have a reduced role as Gigginstown House Stud’s jockey .

Lisard Lady was picked up for just E2,500 last year and today produced a taking effort to win under Wayne Lordan. The daughter of Bated Breath missed the break, was last two furlongs out and overcame some trouble in-running before really sprinting home for a last-gasp half length win over Darkolva

Dual Cheltenham Festival winning trainer Cooper, primarily a national hunt trainer, was recording his first winner since back in May 2015 and today stated “she (Lisard Lady) was in all sorts of trouble (in the race) and had to get out but I always thought she was very sharp and I was proved right. Wayne (Lordan) said she took off when she got daylight.

“She's been away to Tipperary and Killarney after racing and she knows her job; I knew I wasn't coming up from Co Kerry with a no hoper! She's for sale.”

Regarding the decision by Michael and Eddie O’Leary, of Gigginstown, to reduce his son Bryan Cooper’s role as their retained jockey, Tom Cooper graciously and a little emotionally added “it came all of a sudden after a good Punchestown. He's had a great time with them (Gigginstown) - 4 years and 29 Grade Ones. He'll bounce out of it."

Quotes from Michael Graham