Sprite beats Hope as Cooper doubles-up

The betting suggested the Kilsheelan Mares Maiden Hurdle was a two horse race and so it proved to be, with second favourite Water Sprite getting the better of market leader Billy's Hope

After winning the opener on Fire In Soul Bryan Cooper was completing a quick double aboard the Gordon Elliott trained five-year-old who was fitted with a tongue strap for the first time.

A dual winner on the flat when trained by John Murphy, the daughter of Papal Bull ran a fine race on debut for Elliott at Punchestown in December, finishing third to The Brock Inn.

Sent off a 7/2 chance today she was settled in mid-division and took closer order to track the leaders from before four out.

She got a nice run through on the inner before the second last and soon hit the front, keeping on well under pressure on the run-in, going on to score by a length and a half.

Billy's Hope, who was sent off the 4/9 favourite, had every chance but couldn't reel in the winner on the run-in and had to settle for second under Robbie Power for Jessica Harrington. Routes Choice (20/1) kept on well to take third, a further half a length back under Luke Dempsey for Willie Austin. Msmilan also caught the eye, finishing three parts of a length back in fourth with a twenty length gap to the fifth placed horse.

The winner is owned by the Five Men Syndicate and her trainer Gordon Elliott said afterwards: "She's not a bad little mare and had a good run the last day at Punchestown. I think she will be better on better ground."

STEWARDS REPORTS

B.T. O'Connell, rider of Una's Pleasure trained by John J. Walsh, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount never travelled on the ground.

A. McCurtin, rider of Gormans Pier trained by N Dooly, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount stopped quickly and was pulled up.

P. Townend, rider of Let Her Cry trained by J.R. Barry, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount hung left throughout this race.

L.P. Dempsey, rider of Routes Choice, trained by J.P.Dempsey, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount was flat out throughout the race but finished well and in his opinion the filly needs a longer trip.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee