Gordon Elliott: Don Cossack will only return if 110% fit

Gordon Elliott plans to give Don Cossack just one run before he defends his Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup crown next March — as long as the star chaser shows sufficient progress in his recovery from injury.

The nine-year-old is well on the road to recovery from a tendon problem, but Elliott has reiterated that the six-times Grade One scorer will be retired if it looks as though he might not reach the heights to which he has grown accustomed.

“He scanned OK a few weeks ago,” the County Meath handler said.