Elliott's Cossack captures Gold Cup

Emotions were high in the winners' enclosure at Cheltenham this afternoon when the Gordon Elliott-trained Don Cossack stormed to victory in the Gold Cup in a dramatic race that saw Cue Card crash out at the third last.

Winning jockey Bryan Cooper was emotional in the immediate aftermath of the race and referred to the faith that the late Dessie Hughes had shown while Gordon Elliott was also close to tears as the top-rated chaser returned to the winners enclosure.

'I'm delighted for Gigginstown because they've supported me since I started. It takes a lot for me to start crying, I can't believe it,” stated the Longwood-based trainer.

'I've never been so nervous in my life, I'm just so happy for everyone - all the staff, my mother and father, everyone,' he added.

Don Cossack was faultless throughout the race and won impressively as the nine-year-old gave his trainer a first triumph in the race while it was a second for Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown House Stud after War Of Attrition won the race 10 years ago.

Don Cossack won from the Willie Mullins-trained duo of Djakadam, also second last year, and Don Poli also owned by Gigginstown.

Barry Geraghty landed his first winner of the Festival when he partnered Ivanovich Gorbatov to victory in the JCB Triumph Hurdle.

Nina Carberry won the Foxhunters with On The Fringe in the race which featured Victoria Pendelton who finished fifth in a great performance.