Victory at last Forpady
Popular Irish chaser Forpadydeplasterer recorded his first victory in well over three years with a stylish performance in the Glen Chase at Thurles.
Although without a victory since his Arkle Trophy success at the 2009 Cheltenham Festival, Tom Cooper's 10-year-old has filled the runner-up spot on a number of occasions at the very highest level.
Sent off a 3-1 shot faced with five rivals on his second attempt a three miles, Forpadydeplasterer was ridden patiently by Bryan Cooper but made eyecatching headway to take closer order rounding the home turn.
Snooze did his best out in front, but Forpadydeplasterer took over at the final fence and kicked clear to score by five and a half lengths.
Berties Dream just grabbed third spot from 2011 Grand National runner-up Oscar Time, who ran a perfectly satisfactory race on his first appearance in a year.
Cooper said: "That is a great relief after three and a half years without a win.
"Things went all wrong for him at Cheltenham (last time out in the Paddy Power Gold Cup). He missed the first few fences and that was it. Paddy Brennan had the brain to pull him up as he seemed to lose all confidence.
"This was an ideal race for him, even though it was over three miles on heavy ground which was a worry, but he got the job done.
"He will be trained for the Grand National now. He had to be placed in a three-mile race to get in it and that's it done now. He will have two more runs before Aintree.
"He jumped brilliant today which he hadn't done for a while."
