DON COSSACK faces just three opponents as he warms up for the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup in the Ladbrokes Ireland Kinloch Brae Chase at Thurles tomorrow.
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| Tony McCoy on board Don Cossack at Aintree in 2015 |
Gordon Elliott used this Grade Two event as his stepping stone to the Festival last year and Don Cossack was just getting the better of the argument with Champagne Fever when the latter came down.
Don Cossack, who is sure to start odds-on, has won three Grade Ones since finishing third in the Ryanair last March but tipped up in the King George when coming to challenge and the trainer is keen to give him a confidence boost before at crack at the big one.
Elliott said: "I didn't want to go to the Irish Hennessy, I thought it might be a bit too close (to Cheltenham) and have too a hard race, we'll let him take his chance at Thurles, hopefully he'll have a clear round and run a good race and that will be it for the Gold Cup.
"Looking at the re-run of the King George, I don't think he got the best run through the race, he never got into
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| Gordon Elliott hopes the race at Thurles will be a good warm up for Don Cossack |
Don Cossack is currently second-favourite for the blue riband, behind last year's runner-up Djakadam, and Elliott slightly rues the fact his charge is around in such a top-class era.
"I'd loved to have been training him three or four years ago, the Gold Cup looks as hot this year as it has in a long time. But we've got the highest-rated horse in England and Ireland last year and I think he is a better horse come that time of the year - I don't think he is a real mud-lover, so I hope it dries up come Cheltenham time," said Elliott.
"He doesn't need quick ground, but the better the ground the better chance we have."
Taking him on at Thurles is Noel Meade's Wounded Warrior, third in the RSA last March and second to Valseur Lido at Punchestown.
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| Noel Meade's Wounded Warrior will also be in the warm-up race at Thurles |
"We have just had a few muscle problems with Wounded Warrior that have held him up," said Meade.
"He is in the Gold Cup and we will see how things go. He is a huge horse that I have always liked a lot and I am hoping he will improve. Hopefully, we can keep him right and have a good end to the season."
Robbie Hennessy's veteran Rubi Light and Jerry Cosgrave's Mount Colah complete the field.
Ladbrokes bet on the Gold Cup: 7-2 Djakadam, 5 Don Cossack, Don Poli, 6 Vautour, Cue Card, 10 No More Heroes, 16 Road To Riches, 25 bar
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