Jockey Bryan Cooper records his tenth win of the season
SEVENTEEN year old apprentice jockey Bryan Cooper, from Farmer's Bridge, Tralee, continues to impress and is rapidly climbing the racing ladder to success. The talented and stylish youngster was really seen to advantage at Killarney races on Wednesday evening, where he was seen at his brilliant best in winning the valuable Larkin Pub and Restaurant Milltown handicap hurdle, over 2m 6f, on Casey Top, 9/1 to 8/1, for Enniscorthy trainer Leonard Whitmore.
Taken to the front from the outset Cooper produced an outstanding display of calculated front running and despite being headed six out, remained in close contact. Jumping superbly, he went to the front two out and strongly ridden went right away to win impressively by five lengths from Your Busy.
This was the winning rider's 14th win of his blossoming career and his 10th of the current season. He is attached to the powerful Dessie Hughes stable.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday evening at Killarney, Tralee business man James O'Shea tasted victory with Banna Man, which was well supported from 11/2 morning prices and from 7/2 to 11/4 on track.
Given a tremendously strong drive by Barry Geraghty, he prevailed by half a length in a thrilling finish with Rhinestorious to win the McSweeney Arms Hotel handicap chase over 2ml 1f.
Prominent from the outset he began to close four out and went second into the straight getting on terms three out he went to the front two out, and powerfully ridden stayed on well under pressure to land good support.
He is trained at Fethard, Co Tipperary by Thomond O'Mara, and will now head to Galway next week where he won his beginners chase two years ago.
- Pat Griffin
