Stout-staying Don Poli lands red-hot Topaz

The Bryan Cooper-Gigginstown House Stud combination struck again at Grade 1 level at Leopardstown yesterday when Don Poli, trained by Willie Mullins, landed a red-hot Topaz Novice Chase.

This was almost certainly the best contest of its type run so far this season, in Britain or Ireland, and the imposing five-year-old came through the stiff test with reputation greatly enhanced.

He travelled and jumped beautifully through the race for a clearly ultra confident Cooper and found buckets for pressure when the need was greatest. Cooper pushed him into the lead on the approach to the final fence, but then they were marginally headed after the obstacle by Apache Stronghold.