Don wins well on return at meathdominated punchestown

Don Cossack returned to action on a winning note today at Punchestown for trainer Gordon Elliott when jockey Bryan Cooper steered the Cheltenham Gold Cup-hopeful to victory in the Irish Daily Star Chase to complete a double for the jockey, trainer and owner as they also won the Buck House Novice Chase with The Game Changer.

Don Cossack won this race 12 months ago before going on to win five of his six subsequent outings last season on the way to finishing as the highest rated chaser in Britain and Ireland.

Five starters were reduced to four when Bright New Dawn exited at the second with another Elliott runner, Roi Du Mee (won the race in 2011 and 2012) and Cailin Annamh setting the pace in the two-mile, seven-furlong event.

Don Cossack had plenty in hand to win by a comfortable 12 lengths.

'There are a lot of big races to look at and there is a £1,000,000 bonus in England that we will have to discuss,' stated the trainer.

Noel Meade won the last race to complete a hat-trick of wins for Gigginstown when Gunnery Sergeant took the bumper in the hands of Patrick Mullins who was deputising for Nina Carberry (ill).

There was also a success for Dunsany handler Andy Lynch when Jarob (with Finny Maguire whose father Adrian is from Kilmessan on board) completed a hat-trick of wins by taking a handicap hurdle to add to wins at Navan (fences) and Bellewstown (hurdle).

Not to be outdone in the local bragging rights, Kilmessan handler Matthew Smith was on the mark in the opening race with Winter LIon which was partnered by Keith Donoghue from Dunshaughlin who is a grandnephew of Jarob's trainer Andy Lynch.