Cooper aims for Galway return Bryan Cooper is hopeful of being fit to ride at the upcoming Galway Festival despite suffering a dislocated thumb in a fall at Kilbeggan on Friday evening. Cooper was partnering the Gordon Elliott-trained Castletown Bridge in the Best Dressed Lady Competition At Kilbeggan Races On 8th August Handicap Hurdle when he was brought down in a nasty incident involving three horses. There were no casualties at the first flight, but as the field raced on towards the second, Star Of Angels slipped up when rounding a bend and brought down both Castletown Bridge and Persian Wind. Cooper sat out the remainder of the card and missed the ride on Midlands National winner Ravished, with Paul Townend deputising in the saddle. The jockey will not ride at Tipperary on Sunday as planned and is keeping his fingers crossed he will be back in the saddle by the time the Galway Festival starts a week on Monday. Cooper said: "I dislocated my thumb and had it put back into place. "I'm going for a scan on Monday and that will show us what the damage is. Hopefully I'll be back for Galway."
