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Alan Magee

Alan Magee

Cooper is back in the winners enclosure

Wed 15th Oct 2014, 14:57

Bryan Cooper after returning to the winners' enclosure with Lord ScoundrelBryan Cooper after returning to the winners' enclosure with Lord Scoundrel
© Photo Healy Racing

Bryan Cooper recorded his first winner since returning to action from a serious leg injury when Lord Scoundrel took the opening irishinjuredjockeys.com Maiden Hurdle at Punchestown.

Cooper only returned at Limerick on Sunday having been out for seven months following a compound fracture of his right leg in a fall at the Cheltenham Festival.

The Gordon Elliott-trained 13/8 favourite was sent on in the straight by Cooper but appeared in trouble when joined after a mistake at the last by Redrobin

However he rallied strongly in the closing stages to score by half a length, with Pack The Punch another two lengths away in third.

Cooper said, “He’s probably more of a chaser but he did it a shade cosily in the end. I was probably there a bit soon. He got a bit underneath the last but that probably helped me a bit as when the other horse came to me he rallied again.

“It’s great to get the first winner back for the boss.”

Elliott said, “Bryan said he’d a blow after the second last. He likes that trip, and we’ll try and find a novice hurdle in about a months’ time. It’s nice to give Bryan his first winner back as he broke his leg on one of ours (Clarcam).”

(GC & AM)

About Alan Magee
Alan has worked in the racing industry for well over 30 years including with the Sporting Life, Turform and Irish Racing Services. He took up his current role as Irish Racing Team Leader with the Press Association in 2013. He has a keen interest in most sports and plays golf.