Don Cossack© Photo Healy Racing
Gordon Elliott's exciting prospect Don Cossack will take his next step in a fascinating Navan Novice Hurdle on Sunday.
A winner of his last four starts under Rules, the gelding has already shown a liking for the County Meath track as he won a Grade Two bumper on this card last year and opened his account over hurdles with an effortless victory late last month.
Don Cossack could face nine rivals in this Grade One event over two and a half miles, almost half of whom hail from the leading stable of Willie Mullins.
His quartet are Touch The Eden, Pont Alexandre, Zuzka and Reine Angevine, while the remaining quintet have also all won races.
These include Noel Meade pair Busty Brown - winner of the Monksfield Novice Hurdle over course and distance - and Ally Cascade.
Mouse Morris' contender Rule The World, Colm Murphy's unbeaten Rye Martini and Seefood for Dessie Hughes complete the line-up.
"He's in good form, and all being well he'll run on Sunday," said Elliott of Don Cossack.
Jonjo O'Neill has given Get Me Out Of Here an entry in the Tara Hurdle - although he is also engaged in Saturday's Unicoin Homes Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Successful at Fairyhouse in the spring but well-beaten by Oscar Whisky last time at Newbury, he would be a leading contender among a 11-strong field which includes Noel Meade's dual-purpose sorts Muirhead and Donnas Palm and Willie Mullins' Simenon, who won twice at Royal Ascot on the Flat but has not set the world alight over hurdles.
