Don Cossack retired
2016 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Don Cossack has been retired.
Trainer Gordon Elliott says the gelding's had a setback in his recovery from injury - and they don't want to hurt him any further.
Making the announcement on his blog on Betfair.com, Elliot says in the end it was an easy decision to make.
"We found that he had a bit of heat in his leg on Monday and we've made the decision to call time.
"It's a real sickener for Gigginstown, myself, Bryan Cooper and the whole yard. We knew it was never certain we would get him back to the racecourse and even after that, to get him back to his best, but we were hopeful and he was on track for a run at Gowran Park next month.
"He's a horse of a lifetime and he owes us nothing. I said all season that if he had any sort of setback at all we would not abuse him and we'd retire him straight away."
Don Cossack won grade one races at Cheltenham, Aintree, Punchestown and Down Royal in a storied career, and was named Irish Horse of the Year in 2015.
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