Going key to Don Cossack cheekpieces decision at Cheltenham
The prospect of trying Don Cossack in headgear has been raised before, but became a particularly hot topic after Don Cossack’s latest victory in the Kinloch Brae Chase at Thurles.
While the success did show that Don Cossack was none the worse for his fall two out in Kempton’s King George VI Chase, it also raised questions as to whether cheekpieces might help him concentrate better in his races and avoid his tendency to find a flat spot.
Responding to a suggestion he was ‘sitting on the fence’, the trainer fought back.
“To be honest, I wouldn’t say I’m sitting on the fence at all,” he said.
“I’ve been honest with everyone. I’m waiting to see what the ground is going to be like. I’ve been honest with everyone and I’m telling the truth.
“The better the ground is, the less the chance he’ll be wearing cheekpieces.
“I just think he’s a better horse on better ground and if it came up heavy, you’d have to say he might struggle on his last couple of years of form.
“Everyone has got an opinion. He’s won six Grade Ones now.
“He’s the best horse I’ve ever trained and I wouldn’t swap him for many.
“There won’t be many horses going to Cheltenham who have won six Grade Ones.”
Elliott gave an upbeat bulletin on Don Cossack’s health and said he thought the extended three and a quarter miles of the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup would bring out the best in the horse.
“He’s in good form,” the trainer said.
“He’s just cantering away and we’re happy with him and hoping that the better the ground, the better horse we will see.
“We don’t know until we run him in the Gold Cup, but I think the longer trip for him, the better. I couldn’t be happier with the horse.”
Elliott also confirmed that he was leaning towards the Supreme rather than the Neptune Novices’ Hurdle for his smart novice hurdler Tombstone, although he stressed the decision would ultimately be taken by the horse’s Gigginstown owners.
“It will be either the Supreme or the Neptune,” he said.
“In both races, you’ve got two very good horses in there, but I think we might go for the Supreme, follow them round and take our chance and see what happens.
“I’ll speak to Eddie and Michael and see what they think.”
Meanwhile, Nichols Canyon is on course to renew rivalries with Faugheen in the Stan James Champion Hurdle, according to owner Graham Wylie.
The score between the pair stands at 1-1 this season, thanks to Nichols Canyon’s shock success over Faugheen in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown in November.
But the position was reversed in no uncertain terms subsequently at Leopardstown in the Irish Champion Hurdle last month when it was Nichols Canyon who underperformed, finishing 28 lengths behind Faugheen in a disappointing third.
Bookmakers understandably reacted to that performance by easing the price of Nichols Canyon for Cheltenham’s hurdling crown next month, but Wylie told Matt Chapman on At The Races on Monday evening that with nothing having come to light since, the plan is to go for the Champion Hurdle.
“Almost certainly he’s going to be in the Champion Hurdle but we’ll keep our options open just in case something happens between now and March 15,” said Wylie.
“I think you’ll probably see him in the Champion.
“It depends how he does this year, but I think we may step him up in terms of distance next season.”
