Winter Lion and Bryan Cooper pictured on their way to victory© Photo Healy Racing
Winter Lion made all to take the feature at Bellewstown this evening, the Fast Shipping Bellewstown Handicap Hurdle.
Successful in his maiden over flights at Punchestown in October, the son of Galileo was last seen dead-heating with Prickly on the level at Limerick last month.
As low as 8/1 last night, the Matthew Smith trained six-year-old touched 14's on-course before going off a 12/1 chance.
Sent straight to the front by Bryan Cooper (his first day back after surgery on his leg), he had all his rivals off the bridle on the run to two out, and he kept up the gallop from there, going on to score easily by seven and a half lengths. Grand Partner (9/1) finished second under Rachael Blackmore for Tom Mullins, while Lilshane (25's last night and from 6's to 7's on-course) was two lengths back in third under Jonathan Moore for Tom O'Connor. Tigris River The Nutcracker and Colla Pier were sent off the 6/1 co-favourites and they finished fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.
Matthew Smith said afterwards: "I was surprised with how well he won it.
"I was a bit worried about the ground but Bryan knew where the best of it was and gave him a great ride.
"The plan was Killarney and this wasn't really the plan until the other day. It's been a lucky race for us as Rawnaq won it a few years ago and was beaten just a neck last year.
"I was expecting a big run today and would have been disappointed if he wasn't in the first two or three.
"He could possible still run at Killarney in two weeks time."
Cooper, who had been out of action since May 30th, added: "He did it well, he is a lovely horse and jumps very well. He could afford to miss the last two, I knew I had plenty left and I got him to pop the last two instead of firing him.
"He loves good ground and that ground was probably slow enough for him. That's why I kept him out, it seems to be a bit better out.
"He is a horse that I could see going on to win a couple of more. I'd love to ride him on proper good ground. It's summer soft today and I'd say the quicker it is the better for him.
"The run the last day in Limerick probably sharpened him up and left him right for today."
Cooper went on to say: "My leg is very good, the first two weeks were very slow with the scar and I had to do plenty of physio.
"I went away for ten days and came back then and had more physio. I've been riding out the last week and Gordon (Elliott) has been keeping me busy."
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
