‘The only gamble I ever did was buying racehorses’

Bryan Cooper won the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Don Cossack in 2016. He retired a few weeks ago with 532 wins in his career (including nine at Cheltenham) and 39 Grade one wins. The Punchestown Festival, which this year runs from April 25th to 29th, has played an important role in Cooper’s life, and he will be there in a social capacity.

Are you a saver or a spender?

I certainly was a spender but with age has come a little bit of wisdom and now I consider more before I spend. In recent weeks my life has changed as I have retired from race riding so I’ll have to sharpen my pencil again, I think.

Do you shop around for better value?

When I was younger, no. It was all based on convenience and impulse buying. However, now I might bypass the luxury brands and try to shop a bit more cleverly. It’s no secret that many sportspeople who are fortunate enough to do well tend to do so at a young age, and with success comes money, but you need someone around you to advise you well, as careers in sports can be short-lived. Fortunately I had my uncle Brian, who gave me a steer in the right direction and helped me plan for my financial future.

[ Bryan Cooper on his fear of falling: Why the celebrated jockey is retiring at age 30 ]

What has been your most extravagant purchase and how much did it cost?

Without a doubt, cars. Jockeys do a lot of mileage travelling from one end of the country to the other. You’d average 70,000km a year, so you want something comfortable. That’s not to say you don’t want something that looks the part as well, which is why most jockeys drive flash cars. I may have taken it to the extreme over the years, though. I’d rather not do the calculation for myself – if my family knew, they’d be very disappointed.

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What purchase have you made that you consider the best value for money?

Life is all about timing, and I was in a position to purchase my house at Christmas 2012 when house prices represented excellent value. It is a topic to be avoided with my neighbour, who I get on great with but who purchased four years previously at the height of the market. I live in Newbridge, and I bought at the time when I was with the late Dessie Hughes, who played a massive role in launching my career as a jockey and who steered me on the right path in life as well as racing.

How did you prefer to shop during the Covid-19 restrictions – online or local?

I had very little choice and, like many, had to go online. I thought it was a good idea to pack a few bits to keep me going for a week while I went home to Tralee, thinking I would be back in Kildare soon after. If we knew then what we know now! I was in the Kingdom for three months with a wardrobe full of clothes in Co Kildare, so the delivery drivers were arriving at the house numerous times a week. Yes, it’s fair to say that I like clothes.

Do you haggle over prices?

No, but it’s probably something I should do. I’m sure it has cost me money over the years and I need to get better at it. I learned a tough lesson in Mexico last summer on a very expensive taxi journey – I found out it should have cost me about €150 less than what I paid.

[ Me & My Money: ‘I bought my first pharmacy, Meaghers, at the tender age of 28′ ]

How did the Covid-19 crisis change your spending habits?

After restrictions eased, I moved back to Kildare and started doing a weekly grocery shop whereas before I’d grab and go or buy something on the way home from racing. Covid has made me more organised in planning out meals – that’s always a help when you’re keeping an eye on fitness and nutrition.

Do you invest in shares?

No. Simple as that.

Cash or card?

Cash is king but there’s not as much of it about any more. The arrival of a credit card-bill is a good reality check and is sometimes followed by a call from my accountant.

What was the last thing you bought and was it good value for money?

Ahead of the big spring festivals, I would try to get some new clothes. I got lucky with a jacket in Reiss that I liked and tried on, only to discover it was more than 50 per cent discounted when I got to the till. I’ll have to keep my eye out for more bargains like that now.

[ Cheltenham Gold Cup winning jockey Bryan Cooper announces retirement ]

Have you ever successfully saved up for a relatively big purchase?

I was very focused on buying my house and had a good system in place to put money aside each month, so although I would count myself as a spender I would still put a few quid away for a rainy day.

Have you ever lost money?

Yes. Like most people who work in racing, I would have bought and sold young horses. Bloodstock is not an exact science and looks easier than it is. You tend to hear plenty about the success stories, but I can assure you there are more failures than winners when you start out.

Are you a gambler and if so have you ever had a big win?

The only gamble I ever did was buying racehorses.

Is money important to you?

Health and family are the most important things, no question. As long as I can pay my bills, do a bit of travelling and enjoy a comfortable life, I am more than happy.

How much money do you have on you now?

Not a cent. It’s very much card and phone payments these days. I use Revolut for my day-to-day spending, and at this exact moment, I have €5.45 on it.

In conversation with Tony Clayton-Lea