Cooper keen to take Leader ride

Jonjo O`Neill has confirmed that Liam Cooper will ride leading Royal & SunAlliance Novices` Hurdle hope Keen Leader at Cheltenham.

The 23-year-old Cumbrian claimer will take the mounts on Joss Naylor in the Coral Cup and Giocomo in the JCB Triumph Hurdle and may also ride Legal Right in the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Cooper, who is currently a close second to Henry Oliver in the conditional jockeys` table, has been with O`Neill since he left school.

His boss said: 'Liam will ride Keen Leader. He is very good, he has got great hands and he is a very good horseman.

'Just lately I`ve come to think that Keen Leader is our best chance of a Cheltenham winner. I didn`t think he was a Cheltenham horse until he won at Uttoxeter last time. But since then he has really improved on the gallops.

'No jockey is booked for Legal Right and we will wait and see _ there are a lot of question marks. Liam has ridden him, but so has Richard Johnson, Norman Williamson and AP McCoy. I will haveto talk to the owner.

'But Legal Right is a good ride and he would have a place chance if the ground is soft.'

O`Neill, bidding for a fourth career Festival training victory in his first season at nearby Jackdaws Castle, is also eyeing the Weatherbys Champion Bumper.

'We may run three and we have a great chance,' he said. 'Rhinestone Cowboy has been all the rage and he won well at Ascot. But Iris`s Gift has won three times. He might get done for toe at halfway, but he will be doing a lot of work in the final stages - he is a real tough horse.'

Native Emperor and Celtic Pride are set to go for the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle final with Giocomo and Quazar in the Triumph.

But O`Neill warned: 'I am just praying it rains _ all mine want it soft!'