Don Cossack has National Hunt followers buzzing

If he had people talking after his Naas romp, well now there is hardly a racing enthusiast that doesn't have Don Cossack on their exciting prospects lists, as the four-year-old landed a dramatic Irish Form Book "Future Champions" (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race at Navan under Nina Carberry. Rory O'Moore in much the same manner as he'd done at Cork just seven days ago, slipped the field here and looked to have a race winning advantage turning in. The Stowaway gelding was still a long long way clear at that stage but Don Cossack began a solo chase of the pace setter and from over a furlong out it looked as if he'd bridge the gap.

The big German-bred son of Sholokhov got there in the closing stages to score by a length and a half and anyone in any doubt about the merit of the performance only need look to the fact that they left the third-placed Bridgets Pet (a dual winner) thirteen lengths behind. There was a gap of 29 lengths and the same back to the final two finishers, previous good scorers Blue Bicycle and The Amarillo Kid emphasising the value of the form.

Gordon Elliott, out of luck earlier with Mount Benbulben trains Don Cossack for Gigginstown House Stud and he said: "He's very good – a proper horse. He might go for something like the Rockview Bumper at the Curragh. There is a chance though that he mightn't run again this season." (GC & EM)