Bryan Cooper, earlier successful on O Fortuna doubled his tally at odds of 149/1 when Avondhu Lady justified the confidence of those that backed her from 25/1 this morning into 14/1 in the Punchestown.com for Festival Offers Mares Maiden Hurdle.
Twice a winner 'between the flags,' the victorious chestnut stayed on dourly in the stamina sapping conditions to beat Killtilane Rose by two lengths.
Winning trainer David Fenton hasn't been on the mark under rules since back in 1999 but point-to-pointing is primarily his game and he said: "She did well in point-to-points last year and she needed her first couple of runs on the racecourse proper to get her here today.
"She is very tough and genuine and she'll be kept to mares company. Really she wants three miles as stamina is her forte. The ground made up for the distance (2m 4f) there as it was a stamina test.
"I'm delighted for the Flynn brothers who own her. They are great supporters of mine, they have the Avondhu Bar in Fermoy, hence the name of the mare. Richard Flynn is the name on the racecard, his brother is Thomas."
