Curragh next for Don

RACING:PONDERING A tilt at a race at the Curragh might be unusual for December but that's what Gordon Elliott is thinking of for his exciting bumper performer Don Cossack.

The Gigginstown-owned four-year-old pulled an unlikely victory out of the fire in a Grade Two at Navan on Sunday when he eventually overhauled the pace-forcing Rory O’Moore who was almost a furlong clear of the field at one stage of the race.

Don Cossack was the only one capable of overhauling him in a performance that might have had other connections dreaming of Cheltenham. Elliott though is determined to take a more long-term view and is looking at another bumper run at the Curragh in May.

“He’s a good horse. He’s only four but he’s 17 hands so he’s going to be a smasher down the road. We won’t do too much this year, we’re going to look after him,” he said yesterday.

“The leader must have been half a furlong in front and the boys had gone to sleep a bit. If Nina [Carberry] got beat it might not have been her finest hour, but it worked out great.

“We all want winners at Cheltenham but I don’t think that bumper is the be-all-and-end-all for him. A couple of years down the road he could be anything so we’re going to mind him.

“The Rockview Bumper at the Curragh [in May] could be his next run, it’s very valuable, and then he’ll go novice hurdling next season – he won’t jump a hurdle in public this year,” Elliott added.

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Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney has purchased a yearling which is set to go into training with Tom Dascombe. Rooney recently visited Dascombe’s Manor House Stables in Cheshire and was so impressed he decided to buy the as-yet unnamed horse.

Dascombe’s yard has been financed by Rooney’s United teammate Michael Owen, who enjoyed success this year with stable star Brown Panther who won at Royal Ascot.

A spokesman for the yard said: “I can confirm that Wayne and Coleen [Rooney’s wife] have bought a horse. I can’t confirm all the details as yet as it’s very early stages.”