Cheltenham Gold Cup winning jockey Bryan Cooper has given an insight into his thoughts on all things racing, including:
- His solution to getting new fans into Horse Racing
- How much jockeys love a win at Galway
- What Dettori should do after retiring
- How Paul Townend should be seen as a legend of the sport
- His love of Consitution Hill
- His horse to follow for the 23/24 NH season
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Racing Needs Netflix To Save Future Of The Sport
I watched the NFL documentary that came out last week, every sport is doing it now. I know we had the documentary with Oisin Murphy on Prime, but it would be very beneficial to the sport if there was a Netflix documentary that came out because that’s how you’re going to get more people involved in the sport.
People that aren’t involved in racing like to go and have a small bet and they’re the type of people that you would like to try and get more involved in racing. It’s scary that the racing might not be broadcast on TV. You need to show racing on TV to attract a new audience, just like every sport that is there with rugby and GAA. We’re in a big spot of bother if Irish horse racing isn’t broadcast.
The next week or two will be really important for racing in Ireland. Broadcast advertising and funding rely heavily on betting companies and if they aren’t able to promote what they do on live TV then they will lose a lot of money. I’m hoping Sky and Racing TV don’t follow through with the threats because there will be a big problem.
A lot of the top jockeys in Ireland aren’t very good on social media but it’s a big part of the world now and it’s the way to go for getting yourself out there. What Oisin Murphy, Tom Marquand and Hollie Doyle are doing is fantastic on social media, they’re very good at it. I think a few people in Ireland should start doing it as well then you hope the more it will drag people from outside the industry to come into it.
Jockeys Love A Winner At Galway
Galway is a great place to ride a winner, it might be an ordinary race but you get a great buzz out of it because of the atmosphere from the crowd so it means a little more than other winners. Having a winner does boost your confidence and it’s a great place for conditional or apprentice jockeys to have a winner that could kickstart them for the season and they might be a name worth following as they attract attention from bigger trainers and the opportunities that follow.
There’s not a lot of big races for the jump jockeys aside from the Galway Plate and Hurdle, so we get to enjoy the festival a little more. I missed it for four years in a row through injury, so I’ve been able to see both sides of it when I go down and enjoy myself. People that have no interest in racing always go to Galway.
It’s very competitive and Galway is a tricky track to ride so no race is easy – it can also get very tactical when the ground is quick.
The jockeys do enjoy things a little more and might go out for dinner together, whereas you might not do that at Cheltenham or Leopardstown because it’s a bigger event. We may stay down later in the week and have dinner and drinks afterward as well.
What Should Frankie Do After Retiring?
“I urge Frankie Dettori to stay busy when he retires”
Frankie will be a lot busier when he retires than I am! He’s such a high-profile name and so good for the sport, he’s a very good people person. I’ve been very fortunate to be in his company a few times and he’s great to everyone around him, he gives everyone attention. I can see him making a few TV appearances, he’s great for the cameras and does a lot of good for the sport. He won’t be short of things to do. Keep busy is the advice I would give, the busier you are the better.
Frankie is in a league of his own, himself and Ryan Moore are so far ahead of the other riders at the minute. Rachael was at Wimbledon in the Royal Box, so she’s definitely up there with Frankie. Frankie is great to the public, so it will take a very big person to fill those boots. He has everything, he’s an entertainer and a top-class professional.
Paul Townend Is As Much A Legend As Ruby Walsh
I think Paul Townend is up there with Ruby Walsh and Barry Geraghty, I don’t think Paul currently gets some of the recognition that he deserves. His Cheltenham strike rate is brilliant and he’s been riding Grade One winners since being 18 years of age. Since he’s stepped into the number one job at Willie’s, he’s grown even more and he doesn’t get things wrong. He’s tactically very good and he’s always in the right place, I couldn’t name one race last year where he left things behind him. He delivers every single day, keep things so simple and I’d have him up there with Ruby Walsh and Barry Geraghty, they were incredible jockeys, especially at Cheltenham, and Paul could surpass their records if he keeps going as he is.
At the minute, Paul doesn’t have the credit he deserves. Willie is bigger than he has ever been. Paul is picking the right ones to ride and he’s never getting it wrong, he’s delivering more than any rider at the moment. He’s not a big media or social media person, he likes to keep to himself and that’s probably why he doesn’t get some of the recognition he deserves, but that’s the way he wants to do it. People around him know how good he is and that’s what really matters.
Jack Kennedy and Paul Townend have a great opportunity to win the jocket’s championship as they’re with two of the best trainers. Jack Kennedy has had a very rough time with injuries and I feel that if he had a clearer run last year then he would have definitely given Paul a good run for his money. Paul has been able to be selective of what he rides in the summer but I think he’ll want to be 10-15 winners ahead of Jack come Punchestown at the end of the season because they can rack up winners quickly. If Jack gives it a good go and his agent does a good job for him then he’ll be right there.
Constitution Hill is the Frankel of jumps racing
I don’t think anything can beat Constitution Hill, he’s in the Frankel era at the minute and we should sit back, watch and enjoy because he’s very special. He’s such an easy ride, a good jumper, and just ticks every box.
The Gold Cup is more open than the Champion Hurdle. There was only three or four lengths between Galopin Des Champ and Bravemansgame last year, then both were turned over by Fastorslow, so that division is closer and the prices show that. It’s a lot harder to win a second Gold Cup the year after than come back and win a Champion Hurdle consecutively.
My Horse To Watch In 2023/2024 NH Season
I’m looking forward to seeing Marine Nationale come back on whichever road he goes down as I feel he’s not getting the credit he deserves. He’s a two-time Grade One winner and has done it on the big stage despite being lightly raced. I’m interested to see if he does go chasing because he could be pretty special, there’s something about him and he could be even better next season. Barry Connell isn’t afraid to take on the biggest horse and doesn’t run away from anyone. He has a great team around him and they’ll do what they feel best whichever road they think he’ll go down. If his schooling session doesn’t go well at the start of the year then he might stay over hurdles and we might have a clash with Constitution Hill, but he is scaring a few of them away right now. There’s also State Man, who would be a Champion Hurdle winner but he’s run into Constitution Hill at the wrong time of his career.
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