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Cooper in the Gigginstown colours on board Roi du Mee (file photo). INPHO/Presseye/Darren Kidd
Horse Racing

Bryan Cooper gets new Gigginstown job off to a flier

Michael O’Leary’s new retained rider won today’s featured race at Thurles.

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BRYAN COOPER HAD a mixed first day at the office for his new employers Gigginstown House Stud, recovering from a hefty fall in the opener to get off the mark with victory in today’s feature race at Thurles.

Cooper looked a little shaken after his fall from Desertmore Stream in the opening maiden hurdle, with Philip Fenton’s charge coming to grief at the final flight when well beaten.

But Michael O’Leary’s new retained jockey dusted himself off and returned on board Gordon Elliott’s Toner D’Oudairies (3/1) to win the 2m2f Listed chase.

There was some pressure on Cooper to perform as among his opposition was the man he replaced as retained jockey, Davy Russell, who took the ride on Gigginstown’s other representative Make A Track, with Rupert Lamb and outsider Letter of Credit also in the four-horse field.

Cooper kicked his charge on after the second last and having finally seen off a cracking effort from Letter Of Credit, rolled home a gutsy winner.

“He was entitled to do that”, a delighted Cooper said.  ”It is great to get a winner for Gigginstown, they have been very good to me since the start.

“I knew this horse and I won on him in the past so I knew his form was very good.  It is great to have those choices to make.”

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