Written 2 years ago by Will O'Callaghan

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Gold Cup winning jockey Bryan Cooper was in superb form at Clonmel this afternoon when riding a double for his boss Michael O’Leary – including a victory in the feature race, the Suir Valley Chase, aboard Bright New Dawn.

Cooper kicked off the afternoon with victory in the opening Easter Holidays Maiden Hurdle on the Mouse Morris-trained Alamein. He went to the lead after the third last on the 9-4 second favourite, and looked to have the even money favourite Bleu Berry covered with that horse came down at the last hurdle. Ruby Walsh was the jockey to take a tumble and was stood down for the rest of the day after spraining an ankle.

Cooper was to enjoy better fortune, and sealed his double on Bright New Dawn in the big race. This horse, trained by the in-form Gordon Elliott, was out of luck in the Grand Annual Chase at Cheltenham earlier this month, but relished this drop in class, travelling well to the two furlong poll before striding clear of Westerners Son to record a facile 12-length victory.

Image – Alain Barr/HRI Press

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