Don Cossack upsides as Champagne Fever crashes out© Photo Healy Racing
Don Cossack was left to come home on his own after a dramatic last fence exit by Champagne Fever in the Ladbrokes Ireland Kinloch Brae Chase at Thurles this afternoon.
The pair were set for a terrific battle in the Grade 2 contest until the 4/5 favourite crashed out at the final fence.
Ruby Walsh made the running on Champagne Fever but Bryan Cooper, on Don Cossack, never let him get too far ahead and took closer order up the back straight.
The Gigginstown gelding jumped up to challenge at the third last fence and the pair were locked together turning for home in the two-and-a-half mile contest.
Champagne Fever gained an advantage with a better jump two from home but was soon asked for an effort as the pair got down to business.
Don Cossack closed again going to the last and the two rivals were upsides at the final fence when the favourite crashed out.
Cooper kept his mount going on the run-in to secure the victory.
Smokey Joe Joe also went at the last leaving last year's winner Texas Jack to come home second, 44 lengths back. Smokey Joe Joe was remounted to claim the third-placed prize-money.
The winner was continuing a brilliant campaign this season and is now four from four this term.
"He's done everything right this year," said Elliott afterwards.
"He had a proper test today, maybe even more of a test than in the John Durkan. Champagne Fever is a classy horse.
"Unfortunately he fell and you never know what's going to happen but Bryan thought he had him covered and I was standing at the last and thought we had him.
"You have to jump. The one thing I liked today and all season about the horse is that he's finishing his races really strongly.
"From the last to the line he didn't stop or go up and down on one spot. He quickened the whole way to the line again.
"He's in the three big races at Cheltenham but I'd say it'll be the Ryanair all being well. He'll handle any ground.
"I got very excited when he was a novice, and I was a young trainer, and said he was the best I had and maybe he will turn out to be. We're taking it day by day and I'm just thrilled to have a horse like him."
Cooper told Attheraces: "It rode like a good race. I thought I had the beating of him. He missed the second last but to be fair about 20 yards fro the last he picked up and rallied.
"I was quite confident if I winged it I had the beating of him.
"This lad is funny. Last year we were probably riding him a bit differently. You have to wind him up properly before you go for him.
"I didn't want to get done for toe by Champagne Fever so I took Ruby on early. You wouldn't do it on a normal day but I knew this lad would keep going and he did it well.
"He's improving. The size of him - he was probably only a frame of a horse last year. I'm just delighted for Gordon and the team who are doing a great job.
"Hopefully he gets there (Cheltenham) in one piece. There's a good bit of time between here and there."
Willie Mullins said of Champagne Fever: "It was all to play for and certainly wasn't over.
"Ruby said he wasn't travelling as well as he did at Kempton but there is a strong wind here today and, as we've seen with Milsean earlier, it is tough to make the running.
"We'll take him home and see where we go from here."
Boylesports cut the winner into 5/1 from 7/1 for the Ryanair Chase while Champagne Fever is unchanged at 8/1.
(Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes)
