Cooper starts new role at Thurles Bryan Cooper has his first significant ride since being appointed as the new number one jockey for Gigginstown House Stud when he partners Toner D'Oudairies in the Thurles Racecourse Supporters Club Chase. Champion jockey Davy Russell was informed on New Year's Eve he would no longer be the principal rider for one of the sport's biggest owners and Cooper, who has enjoyed Grade One success for the team on First Lieutenant and Roi Du Mee, described his appointment as a "great honour" when it was confirmed on Friday. The 21-year-old partnered the Gordon Elliott-trained Toner D'Oudairies to victory at Punchestown earlier this season and gets back on board as he faces three opponents in the Listed feature event at the County Tipperary track. Elliott has been pleased with his charge since his fine second behind Arvika Ligeonniere in the Clonmel Oil Chase in mid-November, when Russell was in the saddle. The trainer said: "He seems in good old form and we're looking forward to getting him out again. It's a while since he ran, but I'm hopeful he'll run a big race." Gigginstown manager Eddie O'Leary, brother of the stud's owner and Ryanair supremo Michael O'Leary, on Friday confirmed Davy Russell would continue to ride for the team, and he will be on Charlie Swan's Make A Track in the same race. Swan said: "He won nicely the last day. He is coming back in trip a little bit, which wouldn't be quite ideal, but, at the same time, he is in great form. He seemed to learn a lot in regards his jumping running on the fast ground against Letter Of Credit, so hopefully he might have improved a bit." The quartet of runners is completed by the Willie Mullins-trained Rupert Lamb and James Mangan's Letter Of Credit. Cooper begins the day with the ride on Gigginstown's Desertmore Stream in the INH Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle. Trainer Philip Fenton said: "We are expecting him to run well on his first start over hurdles, but he was disappointing the last day at Navan, and we are hoping he can redeem himself. He has schooled well and he jumps well."
