Gordon Elliott has ruled out a trip to Aintree for Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Don Cossack, with the Punchestown Festival a possible port of call at the end of the season.
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 back in 2007.
The trainer felt the good ground a Cheltenham had been key to his success. He told At The Races: "It's a great feeling and I just can't believe it to be honest.
"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."
"The Gold Cup has been the plan all year. If he doesn't run again, it's not the end of the world."
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. I'll have to talk to Michael and Eddie (O'Leary) but I'd imagine it would be Punchestown, all being well."
Meanwhile, Champion Hurdler heroine Annie Power and Vautour, the ultra impressive winner of the Ryanair Chase will be guests of honour at the Curragh races on Sunday. Both horses will parade at 2.50pm, just after the second race.
Evan Arkwright, Commercial Manager of the Curragh Racecourse said: “We are very grateful to Willie Mullins and owner Rich Ricci for agreeing to bring both horses to the races and it will be a fantastic opportunity for the public to show their appreciation of their wonderful achievements at Cheltenham”
The opening day of the Irish Flat racing season features a seven-race programme starting at 2.10pm and includes the Tote Irish Lincolnshire and Lodge Park Stud Park Express Stakes, while Aidan O’Brien will have all his star performers, including Air Force Blue and Minding, on show when they train on the track after the last race at 5.30pm
