Don Cossack showed he is likely to be a major player in the top staying races this term when making the perfect reappearance in the Irish Daily Star Chase at Punchestown.
Winner of the Punchestown Gold Cup on his last start, the Gigginstown House-owned eight-year-old cruised home in the hands of Bryan Cooper to give trainer Gordon Elliott his fifth successive win in the Grade Three contest.
Roi Du Mee, one of three representing the winning connections in the five-runner field, made the running.
Bright New Dawn fell at the second obstacle and completed the course riderless. Thankfully, he did not cause any serious trouble as Don Cossack (1-4) jumped into the lead two out and went on to score by 12 lengths from Roi Du Mee.
"It's great to get that out of the way, I was nervous beforehand. We know there is a lot of improvement in him and he gave a real good blow," said Elliott.
"Bryan said he was never out of second gear. He said he gave a bit of a blow at the back of the fifth-last, but he never moved on him and he finished full of running.
"It might not have been the strongest race, but he had to start somewhere.
"If he stays in one piece we're hoping for a marvellous year and we're looking forward to it.
"I was nervous coming here as he's the highest-rated horse in England and Ireland and second-favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup. I don't have too many like that in the yard.
"I have to train him like a Gold Cup horse now. Gigginstown obviously have a few others there like Road To Riches and Don Poli.
"He's in at Down Royal (JNwine.com Champion Chase), but if Noel (Meade, trainer of Road To Riches) goes there he'll miss it. If he doesn't he could go. He's also entered in Haydock (Betfair Chase).
"I have to thank Punchestown. The job they've done with the watering here shouldn't go unmentioned.
"Only for that we wouldn't have run. They knew we wanted to come and did everything they could."
Paddy Power left Don Cossack unchanged at 4-1 for the King George VI Chase and 6-1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Don Cossack was completing a quick double for Elliott, Cooper and Gigginstown following The Game Changer's impressive performance in the Buck House Novice Chase for his sixth win since May.
Cooper oozed confidence as he delivered the evens favourite to jump into the lead at the final fence and sprint clear of Sizing Platinum to win cheekily by three lengths.
"He's entered at Cheltenham next weekend, but I'd say we might have to take a pull now," said Elliott.
"He'll get a break now until the spring. We could look at Aintree and Punchestown with him."
It was a treble for the Gigginstown colours as the Willie Mullins-trained Gunnery Sergeant ran out a ready 2-1 winner from favourite Golden Birthday in the bumper under Patrick Mullins.
Jarob (11-4 favourite) could be aimed at the Irish Grand National in the spring after signing off for a winter break when completing a hat-trick in the Punchestown November Festival Christmas Fair Handicap Hurdle.
Andrew Lynch's eight-year-old, effective over hurdles and fences, supplemented victories at Bellewstown and Navan in good style in the hands of 7lb-claiming amateur Finny Maguire.
"He's going to get a break now and come back in the spring when he'll go back over fences," said Lynch.
"Hopefully we'll run him in the Irish National if he gets a bit quicker over his fences. He wants three miles."
Matthew Smith's Winter Lion (9-2) rallied in game fashion to make a winning debut over jumps in the Buy Your 2016 Annual Badge Maiden Hurdle under Keith Donoghue.
James Nash's Comehere Hi (20-1) came with a rattling run under 7lb claimer Thomas Doran to take the Panoramic Restaurant For Raceday Hospitality Handicap Hurdle by a length and a half from Sizing Scorpion.
Martin Brassil's Much Wants More (9-2) defeated market rival King Leon by two and three-quarter lengths in the Ingoldsby (Q.R.) Handicap Chase under top amateur Derek O'Connor.
"He's a little bit ground dependent. He jumped beautifully and Martin has done a superb job with his jumping as he was a little keen as a young horse," said owner Jeremy Harley.
