D Art D Art delivers for rising star Daniel King
Tom Cooper-trained winner back at his best after serious injury.
Rising weighing-room star Daniel King timed his run to perfection aboard the Tom Cooper-trained D Art D Art in the Mucking Brilliant Paddy Power Novices Chase at Cheltenham.
The winning jockey, who landed a famous double at the Galway Festival in the Plate and Hurdle for Willie Mullins and Tony Martin respectively in the summer, delivered aboard the 7-2 shot.
Given time to close on the leaders from a patient position in the five-runner field, King closed on the leaders at the turn into the straight and stayed on well to deny the strong-finishing Intosomethinggood at 100-30 by a neck.
Cooper said: “This is very emotional and if you saw this horse on August 13, 2025 he got an awful bad doing. He bled profusely internally and they did a wonderful job at the vets.
“It was terrible, he was gone, dead. But they brought him back to life and it was amazing. He crashed into a wall and got loose in the box and out of his stable overnight and what he did to himself was horrific.
“We gave him a couple of runs to get over the accident and he’s taken well to the fences. He can come back here in March, what for I don’t know what, but he’s obviously going absolutely the right way.
“He’s a different horse this year and he’s been a little hot before, but he’s so chilled out now and changed his tune completely, he’s loving life.”
He added: “I was always confident as he jumps for fun and this rider is absolutely top drawer – you’re going to hear a lot about this kid!
“He doesn’t know how to lose this horse and he will stick his head out, grind and wants to win. “