Alan Potts recruits Bryan Cooper to ride his British-based string

Bryan Cooper is looking to make the most of a “great opportunity” after being confirmed as the new first-choice rider for prominent owner Alan Potts’ British-based string.

The leading Irish jockey suffered a major blow earlier this year after losing the job as number one to Gigginstown House Stud, for whom he won the Cheltenham Gold Cup with Don Cossack.

With opportunities on home soil having been thin on the ground, media speculation last month suggested Cooper could be about to make the move to ride full-time in Britain, but he released a statement saying “there are no significant agreements in place at this time and I will continue to be based in Ireland.”