Football, Rugby, UFC, GAA
All free when you join eir Broadband
Cooper no longer Gigginstown No 1
Bryan Cooper will no longer be considered Gigginstown House Stud's number one rider, racing manager Eddie O'Leary has confirmed.
Cooper replaced Davy Russell as Michael O'Leary's number one jockey in 2014, and won the 2016 Cheltenham Gold Cup on Don Cossack, but the 24-year-old has struggled with injuries in recent times.
The Tralee native fractured his pelvis at Punchestown on New Year's Eve 2016, soon after his return from a fractured arm in October, and previously he suffered a collapsed lung after a fall at July's Galway Festival.
"There's been no parting company, we'll still be using him a lot, he just won't have automatic first choice as of today," Eddie O'Leary said.
"We'll still be using and supporting him, but he won't have first call on the horses, that's all."
O’Leary also confirmed that Gigginstown do not intend to appoint a direct replacement for Cooper.
"There are a lot of good riders out there," he continued.
"Be it Bryan or Sean Flanagan or Davy Russell or Jack Kennedy, we'll be using the best available."
Image: Inpho/ Cathal Noonan
eir sport channels are available across the eir Vision, Sky and Vodafone TV platforms as well as on the eir Sport app. All 7 channels in the eir Sport pack are available for free if you are a residential eir broadband customer
Other Sports News
Dettori claims record fifth Prix de l'Arc win on Enable
15:19 | 1/10/17Frankie Dettori claimed a record fifth Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe with victory on John Gosden's Enable at Chantilly on Sunday.
Blame players for Bracewell exit, Wilson says
22:53 | 13/9/17Ireland batsman Gary Wilson says the players are to blame for John Bracewell's exit as the national team's head coach.
Dockrell looking forward to Gayle test
18:08 | 12/9/17Ireland off-spinner George Dockrell has fond memories of the last time he faced West Indies' destructive opener Chris Gayle in a one-day international.
Winning Grand Tour Triple Crown is 'humanly impossible', says Roche
12:24 | 11/9/17Following Chris Froome’s historic Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana double, 1987 Triple Crown champion Stephen Roche has said a Grand Tour Triple Crown is “hum...
Hickey steps down from IOC's executive board
09:43 | 11/9/17Ireland's former Olympic chief Pat Hickey has stepped down from his role on the International Olympic Committee's executive board.
Top Stories
Zebo to leave Munster at the end of the season
17:03 | 23/10/17Munster and the Irish Rugby Football Union [IRFU] have confirmed that Simon Zebo will leave the province at the end of the season.
Scannell blow for Munster
16:40 | 23/10/17Munster and Ireland hooker Niall Scannell is facing an extended spell on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on a thumb injury...
What's On Now
What’s in the eir Sport Pack?
We’ve got heartstopping action across 7 great sports channels, with 42 Premier League games, every Champions League game and every Europa League game, as well as UFC, Allianz Leagues GAA, Golf, F1 and much more.
