If he goes well on Sunday, sure he'll head to the Festival. Which race I'm not so sure. Having won a Grade 1 on good to soft, there's no reason why they'd skip Cheltenham if Sunday shows him good enough to go there.

am dieing to be in the club tory...i will ponder the membership as do expect to collect if the said creature takes his chance at the chelt festival...

also will have to eat humble pie for all the names i have called him in the past!!

but we all know the horse was just backward don't we...we meaning those in the club

well am glad i haven't played him...he was disappointing today for me and never really travelled like you would of wanted and judging by the proximity of the mccoy horse at the last he pretty much ran his race although the winner was just to classy...

not sure what they will do now but would now tbh

a shame for his followers but the lingering doubts about him left handed are still unanswered and also his form in the second half of the season also needs a view...

he has always been a difficult horse for me to fathom but you would of hoped for better today imo

fingers crossed you boys get a run for your cash

Clearly will be better suited by better ground imho. Wouldn't burn the Ante post slips just yet!

maybe that was simply down to the class of the race.

this is where i am at cyclops and the winner just might be a top notcher...however he did dictate the fractions and i doubt he would get such an easy lead at cheltenham in which case his inexperience might count against him, whereas don cossack has plenty of experience

niggling doubts still remain for me in regards going left handed, but on the other hand for me he never travelled like he does, so maybe something was bothering him or he needed the run

i still hope he takes his chance in the rsa as i still want the questions answered moving forward with the horse, although like a lot of the field this year he clearly has his limitations...that isn't to say he couldn't run a big race as the opposition are not strong however

^ agreed - I think this fella will be different off a stronger pace

Yeh,puzzles me as well.

He didn't travel with his usual ease, so that's strange, he does deserves his chance over the 3 miles but I wouldn't hold out too much hope of reversing with bally....think they might go for the jewson now.

Good news Harry. If he's in the race, you'd feel its the correct decision. If he doesn't stay, so be it but, as you say earlier, lets get the questions answered. While it would be hard to argue how he could logically turn over Ballycasey, its another day, another horse race and he does have the advantage of having had four runs over fences. If he lines up, it would be very exciting for those of us who retain great faith in him.

See he's part of the 'plunge bet' on here fwiw

Travelled like much the best horse for most of the race today. Either a bit soft, or didn't stay. If he can't get 3 miles round Aintree, then he won't see out an extended trip at Cheltenham in a taxi. Might have a chance in the Ryanair next season if they decide go for it.

Tend to agree Cyclops. He is still a novice in every sense. Think there is more to come and i've never bought into the hype. He'll be better next season and his ability to handle the wet ground is a big asset given he is trained in Ireland. I think because of the distance he was beaten it will put people off him but that'll just add to his odds.

Entered under top weight for the Irish National - I did predict a National was his best hope of ever landing a really big race.

The Don returns today in a low key contest, just as fans would have hoped. Though the ground seems plenty fast enough, you'd have to hope that he'll be too good for this lot. A top form Alderwood could well test him, in receipt of ten pounds, though he's never really looked a horse who wants nearly three miles. Don has won on his seasonal debut all three years he's been with Elliott and it will be disappointing to those of us who retain faith in his top class potential if he fails to score.

Good luck CCM!

25's for the Gold Cup is probably a fair price. Still not particularly sold on him, and I'd fancy a fair few ahead of him in the market, but this is as wide open a year in quite a while.

A perfect start to the season for this horse. Particularly pleased with the way he quickened up in a slow run race, although admittedly against two probable short runners. I hope they "mind him" this season, as his jockey suggested; I was perturbed to hear Eddie O'Leary say last season that he seemed like the sort of horse that wanted to be running regularly. I'd have thought the opposite. His run at Punchestown seemed ill-conceived and a combination of a long season, a new jockey and an attempt to make the running resulted in the poorest performance of his career. While yesterday told us nothing in the context of whether he may be a Gold Cup candidate, he's confirmed that he's well, confident and at least as good as last season. His jumping was a joy and his jockey never resorted to the whip.

As for the Racing Post's opinion that "Don Cossack has blundered away his chance at the last on several occasions" I can't recall a single one. Indeed, his Drinmore Chase win, like yesterday's was characterised by a spectacular leap at the last.

Saved my bacon today Don Cossack has another member in his fan club!!

Has yet to win over 3 Miles

Good performance today, and ive now joined the club and backed him for the Gold Cup on here at imo a juicy price,just hope that's where hes aimed at,as the Ryanair will be an option.