Speaking at Navan today, trainer Gordon Elliott ruled out running stable star Don Cossack over Christmas period and indictated that his next race is likely to be at the Cheltenham festival in March.

He said “Don Cossack has come out of the race (at Punchestown) very well but he'll definitely not be turning up at Christmas and I doubt if he'll turn up in the Hennessy (in February).

"I'll have to talk it over (with the O'Leary's, owners) but he could go straight to Cheltenham."

By Thomas Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee