Bryan Cooper (jockey)
| Bryan Cooper | |
|---|---|
| Born |
7 August 1992 Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Major racing wins | |
| Triumph Hurdle, Cheltenham Gold Cup | |
Bryan Cooper (born 7 August 1992) is an Irish National Hunt jockey and is the son of trainer Tom Cooper and his mother is Geraldine Cooper née O'Brien. Cooper was born in Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland 23 years ago and in his short career to date has scored notable wins at the National Hunt Cheltenham Festival.
Coming from a horsey family it was virtually inevitable that Cooper would be involved in that industry. Around the time he was born his parents won a pony in a raffle and this was named Snowy by the family. At an early age Cooper jumped up on Snowy's back and rode him around his fathers yard. He then progressed to the pony and show jumping circuit and retained an interest in these events until he was around 15 years old.
Cooper took part in his first race when he was just 14, learning his trade in his father's yard and spending his school holidays in the yard of Dessie Hughes. Knowing that a life in the horse industry was for him; Cooper left school before completing his final exams and took up a post in the yard of Kevin Prendergast which led to his first racecourse ride in The Curragh on 14 September 2008.
At 15 Cooper weighed 8 stone 4 pound, but a growth spurt during this period put paid to his chances of riding on the flat. He returned to Dessie Hughes yard so that he could take up riding National Hunt horses which was always his first love. Memorably for Cooper his first win was aboard Rossdara, a horse trained by his father, in a maiden hurdle race at Clonmel on 29 October 2009.
A few weeks later Cooper rode his first winner for Dessie Hughes at Punchestown and in the next season 2010/11 he fulfilled his promise by winning the conditional championship and winning his first Listed race by piloting Coscorrig to victory in the John Fowler Mares Chase. His winning margin was 14 better than his nearest rival and he also managed to win at the renowned Galway Races that begin on the last Monday in July.
The teenage Cooper had another exceptional season in 2011/12 finishing the season with 36 wins and also scoring his first Grade 1 victory aboard Benefficent for Tony Martin in the Deloitte Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown in February. He also won two Grade 2 races for Dessie Hughes at Thurles and Limerick and managed to ride a few placed horses at the Cheltenham Festival meet.
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