At the age of 30, Bryan Cooper, the jockey who rode Don Cossack to victory in the 2016 Cheltenham Gold Cup for trainer Gordon Elliott, has announced his retirement from race riding.

In a statement on Twitter, Cooper expressed gratitude to his family, owners, trainers, and stable staff for their support during his 14-year career, adding that he looks forward to the future. Cooper’s retirement follows his replacement on mounts for Willie Mullins, Joseph O’Brien, and his father at Cheltenham last week.

Cooper had a successful career, crowned champion conditional in Ireland in the 2010-11 season and riding 36 Grade 1 winners and nine Cheltenham Festival winners. Despite enduring injuries throughout his career, Cooper recovered from a serious leg break suffered at the 2014 Cheltenham Festival to ride Don Cossack to victory in the Gold Cup in 2016.

Trainer Gordon Elliott praised Cooper as a “natural horseman” and highlighted their successful partnership. Eddie O’Leary of Gigginstown House Stud also expressed admiration for Cooper’s talent and wished him well in his future endeavors.

Cooper had partnerships with several trainers, including Paul Nolan, Willie Mullins, and Noel Meade, and his final victory was aboard Wa Wa at Leopardstown on March. Although Cooper struggled to maintain the same level of success without Gigginstown’s patronage, he continued to achieve Grade 1 glory, notably with Latest Exhibition at the 2020 Dublin Racing Festival and Franco De Port at Leopardstown in 2020.

Wishing Bryan Cooper the very best of luck in retirement from the saddle.