Tag Archive for: Bryan Cooper

Bryan Cooper calls time on riding career

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Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning rider Bryan Cooper has announced his retirement from the saddle with immediate effect.

The 30-year-old enjoyed the highlight of his career when partnering the Gordon Elliott-trained Don Cossack to a four-and-a-half-length success at Prestbury Park in 2016, having also landed Down Royal’s Champion Chase earlier in the campaign.

He bows out with a clutch of Grade One victories to his credit, and nine Cheltenham Festival victories overall.

Mrs Milner was a Festival scorer for Bryan Cooper in 2021
Mrs Milner was a Festival scorer for Bryan Cooper in 2021 (Tim Goode/PA)

In a statement posted on Twitter, he said: “After much careful thought and consideration for some time, I am officially announcing my retirement from race riding with immediate effect.

“I’ve been lucky to have had a wonderful career over the past 14 years as a jockey. To my family, the owner, trainers and stable staff who have supported me throughout my whole career, I can’t thank you enough for some incredible days.

“It is time for me to move on to the next chapter in my life and I’m looking forward to seeing what the future holds for me.”

Cooper returns with Triumph Hurdle hero Our Conor
Cooper returns with Triumph Hurdle hero Our Conor (Joe Giddens/PA)

Our Conor was another Cheltenham winner for Cooper, landing the 2013 Triumph Hurdle in effortless style, while Don Poli, Apple’s Jade and Road To Respect were other key horses in his career.

The last-named trio were all owned by Gigginstown House Stud, for whom Cooper was retained rider for three years between 2014 and 2017.

Son of trainer Tom Cooper, he claimed the title of Ireland’s champion conditional rider in the 2010-11 season, but suffered some terrible luck with injuries, most notably breaking his leg in a fall from Clarcam in the 2014 Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle – an issue which kept him on the sidelines for seven months.

Apple's Jade was a multiple Grade One winner for Cooper
Apple’s Jade was a multiple Grade One winner for Cooper (David Davies/PA)

Cooper enjoyed his best Irish season in 2015-16 when he rode 94 winners and he had partnered 26 winners this term.

He did not ride at last week’s Cheltenham Festival and was unseated by Farceur Du Large on his final ride at Naas on March 12.

His final winner came six days earlier at Leopardstown when he partnered Wa Wa to win a handicap hurdle.

Don Cossack’s trainer Elliott was among the first to take to Twitter to wish Cooper well in the future.

He said: “Happy Retirement @92bryan92. We’ve had some great days together. Best of luck for the future from all of us at Cullentra House Stables.”

Thedevilscoachman awarded Grade Three prize at Naas

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Thedevilscoachman was awarded victory in the stewards’ room following a dramatic conclusion to the Finlay Ford At Naas Novice Chase.

Five runners went to post for the Grade Three contest, with the Willie Mullins-trained Ramillies the 13-8 favourite to follow up a successful fencing debut at Thurles last month.

Amirite and Rachael Blackmore took the quintet along for much of the three-mile-one-furlong journey, with Ramillies always his nearest pursuer under Paul Townend.

With Cheltenham winner Chemical Energy weakening disappointingly, it turned into a three-way fight, with Amirite and Ramillies joined by Thedevilscoachman and Bryan Cooper halfway up the home straight.

The drama began after jumping the second fence from the finish, with Noel Meade’s Thedevilscoachman (100-30) seemingly having the door closed on him when going for a gap between the front pair.

Cooper angled his mount wide of his rivals to mount his challenge on the run-in and was was clawing back Ramillies all the way to the line, but the latter held on by a neck.

However, following a subsequent enquiry the stewards reversed the result.

Meade said: “I know I’m biased, but I think it was the right decision.

“What probably made the decision was when Paul jumped the second-last he came over in front of him. You could say why didn’t he go round him, but he never actually had a chance to go round him because once Paul blocked him up he had nowhere to go except to keep going straight.

“Rachael came out and Paul went in (at the last), but I think he was the best horse.”

Trainer Noel Meade
Trainer Noel Meade (Niall Carson/PA)

Considering future plans, the trainer added: “I’ll have to talk to Frank (Berry) and JP (McManus) before I can say where he’s going to go because I don’t know. Frank is away on holidays with the boss.

“I do think wherever he goes he does need soft ground, that’s essential.

“I didn’t put him in the National Hunt Chase, I put him in the Brown Advisory. I think three miles is far enough for him.

“I think Cheltenham mightn’t be soft enough for him, if it was good ground there. We might even be thinking more of a handicap there, that might be an idea.”

Ramillies at Naas
Ramillies at Naas (Gary Carson/PA)

Prior to the placings being amended, Mullins’ assistant David Casey said: “There was a bit of race-riding at the back of the second-last and I think Paul just held his position.

“He’s a grand horse and stays well. He seems to have put it together better over fences than he did over hurdles.

“He’s in the National Hunt Chase and to me he looks like a horse for that, but the trainer will make the decision.

“He did it well and Paul said he was happy all the way round.”