Bryan Cooper, who won the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Don Cossack in 2016, has announced his retirement at the age of just 30.
The Irishman enjoyed a meteoric rise in his twenties when he rode three winners at the 2013 Cheltenham Festival and was subsequently appointed number one jockey to Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown House Stud.
He enjoyed the biggest highlights of his career for the powerful team, and as well as Don Cossack, rode top level victories on the likes of Apple’s Jade, Don Poli, Road To Riches, Road To Respect and Identity Thief.
But the big race opportunities dried up after he lost the Gigginstown job in 2017 and he was only able to add one more victory, on Mrs Milner in the 2021 Pertemps Final, to his nine wins at the Festival, which he was not involved in this year.
Announcing his decision on Twitter, Tralee-born Cooper 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 owners, 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 forwards to seeing what the future holds for me.”
The 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.
Cooper enjoyed his best Irish season in 2015-16 when he rode 94 winners and he had partnered 26 winners this term.
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.”
