Bryan Cooper rode his first winner since being appointed number one at Gigginstown
Bryan Cooper was on the mark in his new job as Gigginstown's number one jockey at the second time of asking at Thurles.
Last Updated: 06/01/14 2:42pm
Just 30 minutes after falling at the last on Gigginstown's Desertmore Stream, Cooper, 21, made sure he would not be waiting too long to get off the mark.
The Listed Thurles Racecourse Supporters Club Chase had its own sub-plot as Davy Russell, the man Cooper replaced after seven years in the role, was on a fellow Gigginstown runner, Make A Track.
However, the race appeared to revolve around Willie Mullins' Rupert Lamb and the 6/4 favourite was going great guns at the head of affairs until he came down four from home.
That left Gordon Elliott's grand servant Toner D'Oudairies (3/1) in front and he found enough to see off Letter Of Credit by two lengths.
Cooper said: "He was entitled to do that. It is great to get a winner for Gigginstown, they have been very good to me since the start.
"I knew this horse and I had won on him in the past, so I knew his form was very good. It is great to have those choices to make (of what to ride)."
Elliott said: "I thought he might need it a bit, but he has been a good servant and it was nice to get Bryan off to a good start.
"He will come back here for a conditions chase in a few weeks' time."
The race was previously run as a Grade Three but was downgraded this year.