Bryan Cooper does not feel under pressure to make a decision on which horse he will ride in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The Gigginstown House Stud retained jockey has an enviable choice for the feature race of the Cheltenham Festival, with Don Cossack, Don Poli and Road To Riches all under consideration.
Cooper partnered Road To Riches to finish third in last season’s Gold Cup and plumped for the same horse over Don Cossack in the Punchestown Gold Cup, only to make the wrong decision as Gordon Elliott‘s stable star won.
Meanwhile, Cooper won the RSA Chase on Don Poli last year as well as this season’s Lexus Chase, and is unlikely to make his decision until 48 hours before the Gold Cup.
“I think everyone seems to know more than I do,” Cooper, who is expected to pick between the two Dons, told Racing UK. “I won’t know until the Wednesday morning when I make my mind up then.
“There’s no pressure on me, no rush and a lot can go wrong between here and there, and there is plenty of work to be done. Hopefully the two will get there in one piece first and then we’ll make a plan from there.”
Don Cossack will tackle the Gold Cup trip of 3m2f for the first time and Cooper feels the horse is now ready for such a stamina test.
He said: “He’s turning into more of a staying horse than a speed horse now, so that will suit him.
“The key is to get into a good jumping rhythm with him, whether it be me or whoever else if I don’t ride him, and whoever does ride him will need things to go his way because it’s going to be a tough race and whoever stays best will come out on top.”
