Michael O’Leary is happy to leave the decision whether his star chaser Don Cossack wears any headgear in the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup to trainer Gordon Elliott.

Willie Mullins is responsible for three of the top four in the market.

Ground conditions will dictate whether Ireland’s highest-rated chaser Don Cossack will make his seasonal reappearance in Thursday’s Irish Daily Star Chase at Punchestown.

Don Cossack has been announced as the highest-rated jumps horse of the 2014/15 season in the Anglo-Irish Jump Classification on a mark of 175.

The Bibby Financial Services Ireland Gold Cup yesterday developed into the closely contested race the market suggested and, from the feature, the Gordon Elliott-trained Don Cossack emerged a genuine contender for next season’s Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Less than a week after racing said an emotional goodbye to one genius, another weighing room veteran showed that, at 41, the fire still burns bright.

Bryan Cooper admitted he could be on the wrong horse in the Bibby Financial Services Ireland Gold Cup at Punchestown today having picked Road To Riches over Don Cossack.

Tony McCoy steered Don Cossack to his fifth victory of a memorable campaign in the Betfred Melling Chase at Aintree.