Elliott keeps faith in Benbulben despite Navan setback
Sent off the odds-on favourite after his victory over course and distance in a Grade Two event, the Barry Connell-owned gelding ruined his chance by continuously jumping out to his right.
Elliott is convinced something was troubling him, but has lost no faith in the horse, who remains a possible for the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival.
“He seems to be fine (on Monday morning) but the back specialist is coming to look at him as something must have been bothering him,” said Elliott.
“I’m not saying he would have beaten the winner or anything like that, but he definitely didn’t run up to scratch.
“He’s a course-and-distance winner so you can’t say he doesn’t like going that way round.
“I’d be very surprised if there’s not something there, to be honest, as something was obviously catching him.
“The long-term plan is the three-miler at Cheltenham. Obviously good ground is an unknown for him, but I think he should be OK.”
Elliott, meanwhile, believes the sky is the limit for Don Cossack after his extraordinary victory at Navan on Sunday.
Having oozed class when winning at Naas in October, he was sent off at odds-on to confirm that impression but appeared to have a mountain to climb turning into the straight.
The free-wheeling Rory O’Moore was nearly half a furlong in front at one stage but Nina Carberry took the bold decision to set off in pursuit and prevailed by a length and a half at the finish.
“He’s a good horse. He’s only four but he’s 17 hands so he’s going to be a smasher down the road,” said Elliott.
“We won’t do too much this year, we’re going to look after him.
“The leader must have been half a furlong in front and the boys had gone to sleep a bit. If Nina got beat it might not have been her finest hour, but it worked out great.
“We all want winners at Cheltenham but I don’t think that bumper is the be-all-and-end-all for him. A couple of years down the road he could be anything so we’re going to mind him.
“The Rockview Bumper at the Curragh (in May) could be his next run, it’s very valuable, and then he’ll go novice hurdling next season – he won’t jump a hurdle in public this year.”
