Ex-Gold Cup winner Bryan Cooper makes damning claim about Irish horse racing as Willie Mullins runs the show

FORMER JOCKEY Bryan Cooper fears Irish racing is becoming the Willie Mullins show - but knows Michael O’Leary and Gigginstown are spending big again.

Cooper won the Cheltenham Gold Cup back in 2016 and was considered one of the sports brightest talents before surprisingly calling it a day this year.

Now the Irish ex-jockey is concerned about the sport being too one-sided in the country.

Cooper, speaking to Boylesports who offer the latest Cheltenham betting markets, said: "Both on the jumps and the flat, to be fair, there is a semblance of one yard of dominance.

"If you look at the flat results over the last few months, Aidan O’Brien was probably one and two and then Joseph O’Brien third and Donnacha O’Brien fourth. 

"The jumps for sure too, it is becoming a Willie Mullins show. Then there’s Gordon Elliott, Henry de Bromhead and now Gavin Cromwell is doing very well too.

"I think Willie has simply set the bar for everyone and is getting bigger and bigger. 

"He’s also spending bigger at the sales too, I have seen it myself. They are lucky they have loyal owners and can pump the money in. Gigginstown have been spending an awful lot as well."

Cooper knows that Michael O'Leary is similarly starting to spend big again as Gigginstown owner.

He added: "From what I can see, they have spent a lot of money, yes.

"They have bought a fair few point to point winners, they have a lot of horses back with Gordon now so they seem to be spending a lot more.

"I know Michael [O’Leary, Ryanair boss and Gigginstown owner] said he was getting out and scaling back but it wouldn’t be like Michael to play a few mind games…it is great for them to stay in the game and support the sport. 

"It would be great to see one or two smaller trainers, like Emmet - I know he is a Mullins but he paddles his own canoe with a lesser string - but he is doing exceptionally well, as is Gavin Cromwell. 

"I bought a horse called Butcher Hollow. I think he will be a very smart horse this winter.

"He won a point to point by 18 lengths in February and, at the time, his sire Kingston Hill wasn’t too popular then within the space of two months, everyone wanted to buy a horse that was by Kingston Hill, so I think we have a bargain.

"If there was one dark horse to follow, I think he could be very competitive this coming winter."