Cooper left 'pinching himself' after Ted reels in Tennis Cap

Tony Martin and Bryan Cooper teamed up for their second Cheltenham winner in two days when Ted Veale reeled in long-time leader Tennis Cap in the Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle.

Cooper left 'pinching himself' after Ted reels in Tennis Cap

Tony Martin and Bryan Cooper teamed up for their second Cheltenham winner in two days when Ted Veale reeled in long-time leader Tennis Cap in the Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle.

After the victory of Benefficient in the Jewson on Thursday, Cooper followed up his first win at the Festival in the opening Triumph Hurdle on Our Conor to make it a dream week for the young jockey.

Tennis Cap adopted his usual front-running role and had everything on the stretch coming down the hill – apart from Ted Veale (10-1) who was travelling ominously well.

While Ted Veale did not pull right away from the game Tennis Cap, he was always holding him and won by a length and a half.

Manyriverstocross flew home for third while Shadow Catcher claimed fourth.

Cooper said: ``I have to pinch myself. I can't believe this is happening. You dream of this when you're small

“I led up my dad’s winner Total Enjoyment when I was 10.”

He added: “He travelled everywhere and I never missed a beat.

“I got lovely splits and Tony (Martin) told me no matter how well you are going hold on as long as you can. With the ground he was worried he might not get home.

“I just kept sitting and sitting and it paid off.”

Martin said: ``There's only one winning post and I hoped he would get there and not come down at the last.

“Last year he had a couple of disappointing runs so we put him by for Leopardstown but that did not work out because of the ground. It was all against us.

“He travelled well and fortunately today it all worked out.

“I’ve been lucky enough to have (Ruby) Walsh and (Paul) Carberry working for me for a long time. I was disappointed when they weren’t around (to ride Ted Veale), but this man is definitely a good deputy.”

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