'Half-asleep' Cossack saunters to Grade 1 win

Cheltenham Gold Cup prospect Don Cossack (2/11f) showed his well-being by sauntering to Grade 1 success at Down Royal today, winning the top level JNwine.com Champion Chase at his ease.

Ridden by Gigginstown House Stud's retained jockey Bryan Cooper, the son of Sholokov never gave his followers any real cause for concern and in the end disposed of three inferior rivals, for an eight lengths win over Rocky Creek and a further head back to stablemate Roi Du Mee Texas Jack trailing the field last of the quartet.

Paddy Power bookmakers later cut Don Cossack to 100/30 (from 4s) for the King George at Christmas and left him unchanged at 6/1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Following today's race, Don Cossack's fifth Grade 1 win, his trainer Gordon Elliott stated "he's a fair horse and Bryan (Cooper) said he never came out of second gear but at the same time he never took hold of the bridle.

"He only had a school around and I just thought if we let him lengthen we'd have seen the real him but all he could do was win.

"I've never been so nervous about a horse and he'd be better in a better race. You see him there, he wasn't even doing a stroke.

"Willie (Mullins) has to let a few of his out and we'll see what happens in the Charlie Hall (won by Cue Card).

"I wouldn't swap him for anything and while he'd have to improve on that run again, we know there is plenty of improvement there.

"He never took hold of the bridle, was half-asleep but he's like that in a lot of his races. When you give him a squeeze though he wakes up and starts to stretch but he never even gave him a squeeze there."

Regarding plans, Elliott added "(he'll run at) Kempton and the Gold Cup and then Punchestown if everything is okay; he's a good horse so we have to mind him."

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Michael Graham