Jockey Bryan Cooper joined Off the Ball for Friday Night Racing this week to discuss how he is rebuilding his career after being let go by the Gigginstown House Stud in July 2017.
The parting of ways between the pair came as a surprise to some but Gigginstown decided that rather than having one exclusive jockey, they would select the best available on the day.
Speaking to Ger and Johnny Ward about the split, Cooper said: "I wont lie - it was quite tough to take at the time. I went up there, I had an unbelievable Punchestown that year - I had three or four Grade One winners and thought 'Right, maybe I might get another year'.
"I knew it was never going to last forever, genuinely I thought 'Maybe if I get one more year out of it, it will be great' and I did go up there thinking I might get another year out of it and when he did say 'You're finished' - I won't lie, it did hurt because everything is thrown into that basket and I said to myself, 'Well, shit. What am I going to do now like? I'm on my own'
"There was one or two people that were annoying and I'm not going to mention names but a few people for papers...it was like they got enjoyment out of it.
"There was a couple of things that did annoy me but I'd be that type of person that I'd, kind of, laugh about it but there was a few things that were said that didn't need to be said but that's the game you're in.
Cooper also shared his dislike of how social media has influenced the sport, in parts, saying: "I didn't talk to the English press for a while - they annoyed me. They just said things that annoyed me and I just refused to talk to them.
"I blocked a couple of them off my phone and stopped them from ringing me. I can be like that - I get stubborn sometimes. There's a few Irish people I've blocked. That 'block' thing on your phone is great," he added.
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