Gold Cup hero to avoid tilt at Aintree showpiece

Don Cossack ran out a four-and-a-half-length winner over Djakadam at Cheltenham on Friday, giving Elliott a Gold Cup triumph to add to his Grand National victory with Silver Birch in 2007.

The trainer, saddling his first runner in the Gold Cup, felt the good ground a Cheltenham had been key to his success. “It’s a great feeling and I just can’t believe it, to be honest,” said Elliott.

“The Gold Cup and Grand National are the two races you really want to win, it’s just unbelievable to do it.

“I’ve got good staff and good owners, Michael (O’Leary) and Gigginstown have been big supporters of mine, it’s just a dream come true. We knew when the ground came right, everything was right on the day, and it just felt right. This is definitely his time of year, he’s a different horse on better ground. He doesn’t look impressive on soft ground, he does it workmanlike.

“He’s won a Gold Cup now and we’re all very proud of him.”

Don Cossack won the Punchestown Gold Cup last term and that could be a possible option, although Aintree is not on the agenda.

When asked about the possibility of running at both meetings, Elliott said: “Definitely not. If he was going to run anywhere it would be Punchestown, but we will see how the horse is.

“The Gold Cup has been the plan all year. If he doesn’t run again, it’s not the end of the world but I’d imagine it would be Punchestown, all being well.”

Elliott and big-race jockey Bryan Cooper were present when the nine-year-old Don Cossack – luckless in two previous visits to Cheltenham – was given a hero’s reception when he returned to the trainer’s stables in Summerhill, County Meath.

The trainer was thrilled to see so many people line the streets in recognition of Don Cossack’s exploits, and admitted he was still in a “daze” before a celebratory party in Shaw’s Bar.

Cooper, who has made a miraculous recovery from potentially career-ending injuries suffered at Cheltenham two years ago, felt privileged to have added his name to the list of Gold Cup-winning riders.

As an 11-year-old boy, he had led up his father Tom’s horse Total Enjoymentwhen it won at Cheltenham.

“It was a dream come true to win the Gold Cup,” said the victorious jockey who tried to persuade Don Cossack to have a drink out of the prized trophy.

“It’s a race that every jockey wants to win, so I feel very lucky to win it at 23 years old. My dad was at Cheltenham with me and I think he is still in shock.”

Firebird Flyer was a fortunate winner of the Betfred Midlands Grand National after Golden Chieftain fell at the last with the race at his mercy.

Just 24 hours after Cue Card’s agonising fall in the Gold Cup, trainer Colin Tizzard at least looked set for some decent compensation at Uttoxeter.

Evergreen veteran Golden Chieftain, who also fell last time out with a race in the bag, was around three lengths clear and holding his advantage approaching the final fence.

Brendan Powell saw a stride and asked his mount to rise but he just clipped the top and came down.

Evan Williams’s Firebird Flyer, second in the Welsh National, was handed the race on a plate but he still had to fight off Milansbar by two lengths, with Cogry and Spookydooky taking minor honours.

There was a 42nd win for the season for Thirsk jockey Danny Cook on Sue Smith’s Special Wells while a heavy fall left Tom Scudamore, victorious at Cheltenham on World Hurdle winner Thistlecrack, “battered and bruised”.

He will wait for a scan before deciding when to return to the saddle.

Long Run, dual King George VI Chase hero and winner of the Gold Cup, has been retired after finishing fifth in a hunter chase at Carlisle.

After being sent off the 1-2 favourite to see off six rivals in the ApolloBet Bet On Lotteries Open Hunters’ Chase, Long Run made much of the running on his first start for 672 days, but weakened quickly in the straight.