Don Cossack romps home as Cullinane clicks with Georgie

RATED as the star attraction at the Galway October Bank Holiday meeting, Don Cossack lived up to his billing by demolishing the field in the W.B. Gavin & Co Beginners Chase at Ballybrit on Monday.

The former grade two winning hurdler put down an early marker for the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham festival next March – the imposing six-year-old earning a 14/1 quote after a near blemish-free round of fencing on heavy ground saw Andrew Lynch’s mount coast home by 20 lengths from Dressedtothenines.

Don Cossack’s demolition job was in stark contrast to a number of tight finishes on Monday’s card, starting with the John Mulholland Handicap Hurdle in which 7/1 chance Viaduct Joey collared Caim Hill on the line with Ravished just a short head back in third.

Winning jockey Paul Townend was completing a double after Royal Moll justified 4/5 favouritism in the Cancer Care West Mares Maiden Hurdle. Willie Mullins’ charge took it up at the last and had enough in reserve to hold off the late thrust of Catimini by a length and a quarter.

The opening contest saw a pleasing debut from the Enda Bolger trained Gilgambo in the Corrib Food Products Maiden Hurdle. Always travelling sweetly, Niall Madden’s mount went past the pace setting El Soro at the final obstacle in scoring comfortably.

Kilkenny trainer Eoin Doyle initiated a double when Count Salazar (6/1) ended a run of seconds in the Ennis Lifts Handicap Chase. The eight-year-old led into the straight and was always doing enough up the stand rail to hold off the persistent challenge of Goonyella.

There was a desperate finish to the concluding NUIG Horse Racing Society Bumper and the line came just in time for Doyle’s The Wrinker (9/2) which was all out for a nose verdict over Like It A Lot. Only a neck separated the first two home in the Swords Security Flat Race as long-time leader Rory O’Moore was nailed in the shadow of the post by Mireya (6/1).

Davy Russell was the man to follow on Sunday as he steered home a treble, all carrying the colours of the Gigginstown House Stud. The National Hunt champion jockey hardly had to move a muscle as the well touted Very Wood (2/11) easily justified restrictive odds in talking the opening Corrib Oil Maiden Hurdle.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.