All roads lead to Cheltenham for Don Cossack after Gordon Elliott’s pride and joy continued his fantastic season in a dramatic Ladbrokes Ireland Kinloch Brae Chase.
The Co Meath-based trainer has never made any secret of the regard in which he holds Gigginstown House Stud’s eight-year-old, declaring after a Fairyhouse bumper win in 2012: “If I was a horse I’d sleep with him, he’s that good.”
After a couple of years of mixed results he has come of age this term, completing a hat-trick for the campaign in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase last month.
With Champagne Fever lying in wait at Thurles, a fascinating race was in prospect, and the big two had it between them from a long way out.
On the turf
The two were virtually upsides approaching the final obstacle when 4-5 favourite Champagne Fever knuckled on landing and ended up on the turf. His exit left 6-4 chance Don Cossack in a league of his own and Bryan Cooper’s mount came home fully 44 lengths clear of last year’s winner Texas Jack.
Elliott is now looking forward to sending his stable star to Prestbury Park in March, with the Ryanair Chase his likely target.
“He’s done everything right this year and he had a proper test today. He might have had even more of a test than the John Durkan as Champagne Fever is a classy horse.”
The Willie Mullins-trained Champagne Fever was coming back from three miles to two and a half, having seemingly failed to get home in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on St Stephen's Day. Owner Rich Ricci hinted his charge could come right back to two miles for a tilt at the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Although out of luck in the feature event, it turned out to be another fine afternoon for the Mullins team, ending the day with three winners.
The most exciting among the trio is Vroum Vroum Mag (1-2 favourite), who completed a hat-trick in the Ricci colours in the Grade Two Leading Light Coolmore National Hunt Sires EBF Mares Novice Chase.
The champion trainer also claimed the WT O’Grady Memorial EBF Novice Hurdle, but it was his apparent second string Measureofmydreams (4-1) who took top honours, turning over long odds-on favourite and stablemate Milsean.
Hat-trick
Former leading Grand National fancy Prince De Beauchene (8-11 favourite) completed the hat-trick by turning the Arctic Tack Stud Hunters’ Chase into a procession under the trainer’s son, Patrick.
Adrian Maguire's mare Knockraha Pylon caused a 66-1 upset in the www.thurlesraces.ie Maiden Hurdle, while Mark Fahey's Golden Plan (4-1) benefited from a confident ride from Shane Butler in the Matty Ryan Memorial Handicap Hurdle. The Thurles Handicap Chase went to Jimmy Mangan's 11-4 shot Kilcrea, ridden by Davy Russell.
