Don Cossack flawless on his return to action

Don Cossack gave the 2015/16 national hunt season a kickstart with a flawless return in the Grade 3 Irish Daily Star Chase yesterday afternoon at Punchestown.

The striking and imposing eight-year-old was deemed only 85 percent fit by trainer Gordon Elliott, but it proved more than adequate for the highest-rated chaser in these isles as he set out on a path which connections hope will lead all the way to the Cheltenham Gold Cup, in March.

Quietly ridden early and exemplary over his fences, he was clever when needed, but more often precise as he travelled to the front in the straight. Bryan Cooper didn’t have to ask a single question of his mount as he stretched away to beat stable companion Roi Du Mee, to give Elliott a fifth consecutive win in the race.

Winning horse and trainer blew hard post-race, both better for it. Said a clearly relieved Elliott: “It’s grand to get it out of the way. I’d be nervous watching a 0-90 hurdle and you’d have to be nervous with him because he’s the highest rated horse in Ireland and Britain, is the second or third favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, and I don’t have too many like him at home.

“I knew there was a lot of improvement in him. Bryan said he had a bit of a blow at the back of the fourth-last so he just sat on him.

“It mightn’t have been the best of races but you have to start somewhere.”

Of his ability to jump cleanly even when getting in close to a fence, Elliott added: “He may be very good, but it’s not good for my heart.

“He’s been the apple of my eye since he was a bumper horse. He has shown us how good he is and if he stays in one piece hopefully we’ll have a marvellous year with him.

“I believe he’s a better horse on this type of ground, and I have to thank Punchestown for the job they did on watering the track. Only for them the horse wouldn’t have run.

“We have plenty of options, but we’ll do the right thing about the horse and if we look after him through the season we could have him back here to defend his Punchestown Gold Cup crown.”

Added Cooper: “You couldn’t ask for more. The loose horse (Bright New Dawn) was driving me mad, but my horse saw him and cleverly avoided him.

“I never set him alight at any stage, just let him pop them, which is hard to do on a horse like him, one that jumps so well. We never had to come out of second gear.”

On a great afternoon for Elliott, Cooper and owners Gigginstown House Stud, The Game Changer scored for the sixth time over fences when landing the Grade 3 Buck House Novice Chase.

Old rival Sizing Platinum set out to make all but was joined by Miss Dinamic racing to the second-last.

In-behind, stalking the pace, even-money favourite The Game Changer was moving menacingly, and the three went helter-skelter down to the last.

The favourite jumped to the front and quickened away to win readily from the long-time leader.

Said Elliott: “He’s entered in Cheltenham next weekend but we might have to take a pull now. He’s after winning three or four graded races, and is turning inside out.

“He could be a horse for Aintree and back here at the festival on quick ground, and will definitely get a break all through the winter.”

Gigginstown completed a treble when point winner Gunnery Sergeant took the bumper for trainer Noel Meade. Another tactically astute ride by Patrick Mullins, deputising for Nina Carberry and having his first ride for the stable, earned the spoils at the expense of the heavily backed Golden Birthday.

Smart flat stayer Winter Lion made a fine start over hurdles when making all the running in the opening two-mile maiden hurdle.

Looking a natural over flights, he had plenty left to give when Mighty Concorde loomed large on the turn for home.

Jockey Keith Donoghue didn’t have to be too hard on the 9-2 chance, who pulled away late to win well from the staying-on Supreme Vinnie.

“It was a nice introduction, Keith gave him a great ride, and he’s a really nice prospect,” said Kilmessan trainer Matthew Smith.

“He has done plenty of schooling, and was very good here.

“I’m not sure where we’ll go next, but I was afraid two miles might have been a little bit sharp for him, so we’ll step up next time.”

The James Nash-trained Comehere Hi 20-1), successful in a maiden hurdle at Kilbeggan but well beaten on her handicap debut next time, bounced back to winning ways in the two-mile handicap hurdle.

Finny Maguire lost his 7lb claim aboard Jarob, who completed a hat-trick with a game victory in the two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle.

May Dullea, under a good ride from Jack Kennedy, tried to make all and looked to have her rivals in real trouble when quickening off the final bend. However, Jarob responded well to Maguire’s urgings and got up late to score by half a length.

Winning trainer Andy Lynch said: “That was great. I thought they went a bit slow early on as he needs a gallop.

“He’s going on a break now. If he was a bit quicker over his fences, we might go for the Irish National, but we can work on that.”

Much Wants More readily reversed previous form with King Leon when leading late under Derek O’Connor to win the Ingoldsby Qualified Riders’ Chase for trainer Martin Brassil.