Gordon Elliott hoping Don Cossack can defend Gold Cup title

Gordon Elliott plans to give Don Cossack just one run before he defends his Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup crown next March – as long as the star chaser shows sufficient progress from injury.

The nine-year-old is well on the road to recovery from a tendon problem, but Elliott reiterated that the six-times Grade One winner would be retired if it looks as though he might not reach the heights to which he has grown accustomed.

“He scanned okay a few weeks ago,” said the County Meath handler. “I think he could be back within a month, then he’ll start on roadwork.

“He’ll probably do eight weeks of that, get re-scanned and if everything is okay we’ll start back with him then. But everything will have to be 110 per cent.

“It’ll be day by day. If he stays okay, he’ll be back and if he doesn’t, he’ll have a happy retirement.

Stable stalwart

“If the horse is 110 per cent the plan would be to have one run – I’m not sure where yet – and then the Gold Cup, but if he’s not 110 per cent he’ll be retired. He doesn’t owe us anything.”

A tilt at the Betfred Cesarewitch is under consideration for Hidden Cyclone following his narrow reverse in the Galway Hurdle.

Shark Hanlon’s stable stalwart is best known for his exploits over fences, but ran a fantastic race over timber to finish a close second to the Willie Mullins-trained Clondaw Warrior.

Hidden Cyclone is in the twilight of his career at the age of 11, but is two from two on the Flat and Hanlon is eyeing a return to the level at Killarney before a possible appearance at Newmarket on October 8.

Hanlon said: “He’s come out of the race in super form and we’re very happy with him.

“We came home from Galway thrilled and disappointed. He ran a fantastic race, Danny [Mullins] gave him a great ride, but we were disappointed to get beat.

“He’s been a brilliant servant to us, but he’s finished second in a Galway Hurdle, second in a Ryanair Chase and he’s been second in a load of other Grade Ones – he just can’t seem to get his head in front.

“We’re thinking we might run in a winners-of-two Flat race at Killarney at the end of the month. He needs to have that third run on the Flat before he gets a mark in England and we’re thinking we might aim him at the Cesarewitch at Newmarket, but that’s just an idea at this stage.

“He might not be good enough, but we’ll see.”