Bryan Cooper, who gained his biggest win on Don Cossack at the 2016 Cheltenham Festival, has opened up on his decision to quit the saddle when he was just 30
A Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning jockey who had the world at his feet has made a rare public admission over his decision to quit the saddle.
Bryan Cooper rode his first winner aged 16 and was only 20 when he was handed one of the biggest jobs in jump racing as first jockey to Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown House Stud.
He announced himself on the big stage when he steered Our Conor to victory in the 2013 Triumph Hurdle, the first of nine Cheltenham Festival wins.
At the following year’s meeting he suffered a horrendous injury when he broke his leg in a fall that kept him out of action for seven months.
He recovered and was hired to replace Davy Russell by O’Leary, going on to enjoy his finest hour on Don Cossack in the 2016 Gold Cup.
However despite gaining other successes for Gigginstown on the Road To Respect in the Ryanair Chase and Apple’s Jade in the Mares’ Hurdle, he did not last in the role.
Without the same support he struggled to hit the same heights again though added to his Festival haul on Mrs Milner in the 2021 Pertemps Final.
He retired in March 2023, having missed the Festival despite having rides for the likes of Willie Mullins and Joseph O’Brien at the fixture.
Cooper opened up on his decision to the Unbridled podcast with Paddy Brennan and Matt Chapman on Attheraces.
“I was blatantly honest, I lost my bottle,” he said. “The injuries took their toll. I wasn’t enjoying riding horses, I was worried about getting a fall, getting hurt and I couldn’t get up out of bed, go racing and think about that.
“I was doing it for so long. It’s like anyone with a gambling addiction or drink addiction. You can only put it at bay for so long and then it all comes crashing down and unfortunately it came crashing down on me the morning of Cheltenham. I hadn’t planned it.
“I am very content. It’s going to be two years in March. I’ve never been as happy in my life. I’m still struggling to find that bit of a thrill like you get walking into Cheltenham as a winner. That’s irreplaceable but I’m enjoying trying to find something that gives me that adrenaline again.”
Expanding on his loss of confidence Cooper added: “I was able to put it at bay when I got to the races for a certain period.
“From the very minute the declarations came out till I got in the car going home, I dreaded going racing. I dreaded riding horses. I liked being in the weighing room, having a craic with the lads, but I didn’t want to be going out with them.
“I could have come up with this BS story that I’m not getting opportunities and I fell out of love with the game. There was no point lying. The best thing to do was to be honest.”
