Happy Jacky and Bryan Cooper© Photo Healy Racing
Happy Jacky (7/1) swept through to take the honours in the extended two mile six handicap hurdle at Killarney.
Bryan Cooper sent her on to challenge Mr Saxobeat at the second last and the eight-old-gelding went on by a length and a half at the last from that rival who steadied into it and unseated Darragh O'Keeffe.
Happy Jacky was then driven out to win by a reduced margin of a length from a fast-finishing Metersandmasks (11/4f). Molly Wedger (40/1) completed the placings in third, beaten four and a half lengths by the winner.
Ray Hackett said: "He has been running well and his run the last day was very good. The problem we had was he wasn't coming on from his runs and it was taking too much out of him. He has stepped forward this year, is a bit stronger and is more mature and relaxed at the races, which is all helping.
"He got a peach of a ride from Bryan and likes racing prominently, and he said he'd stay three miles - he's not the quickest but is all heart.
"We'll see what the handicapper does and you would like to think he would be a nice horse for the 2m6f handicap hurdle at Galway and maybe he will get a race in before that."
Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
