Leading Gold Cup hopeful Don Cossack takes the limelight this week after recording back-to-back triumphs in the Kinloch Brae Chase at Thurles.

At times Don Cossack raced lazily and the manner of his victory was workmanlike but in his defence, he was making a rather quick return to the fray following his King George fall. The addition of cheek pieces could aid his cause considerably for the Gold Cup and he remains a major player for that prize. In short, it would be most unwise to use this effort as a definitive guide to his Gold Cup claims and expect a much sharper Don Cossack to turn out in March.

At Leopardstown on Sunday, Henry Higgins was the star turn with an ultra smooth win in the Coral.ie Hurdle. This highly competitive handicap has rarely been won with the ease demonstrated by the Charles O’Brien charge, who was given a superb waiting ride by Robert Power. The County Hurdle looms large on the horizon for the JP McManus-owned horse and it would surely be one of the fairytale results of this year’s Cheltenham Festival if O’Brien could pull off the double in a race named in honour of his late father.

On the same card, Colm Murphy showed just what he is capable of when he gets the chance as he brought the hitherto frustrating Empire Of Dirt back to peak form to claim the Leopardstown Chase. Jumping has been a problem for this gelding in the past but he was sure-footed under up-and-coming claiming rider Jonathan Moore. Following the era of Brave Inca, Big Zeb and Voler La Vedette, Murphy has endured a relatively fallow period in his training career but this result provided ample evidence of his prowess.

Novice chasers in focus

In recent weeks, this space has assessed the merits of the country’s top jumpers in various divisions and the novice chasers take centre stage this week. Even as the end of January approaches, the pecking order is hard to gauge but Douvan’s position as the best two-mile novice chaser is already beyond reproach. Last season’s brilliant novice hurdler has looked just as good in two starts over fences and he will surely take all the beating in the Arkle at Cheltenham.

In the three-mile division, Gordon Elliott’s No More Heroes is the foremost challenger for the RSA Chase. This Presenting gelding has shown a striking aptitude for the demands of chasing and his three runs to date have been characterised by ultra efficient rounds of jumping. This dual Grade 1 winner looks well equipped for the demands of the RSA.

In addition to Douvan, Willie Mullins has a plethora of other promising sorts, although it was somewhat surprising to see Pont Alexandre lose out to stablemate Roi Des Francs in a Grade 2 at Naas last weekend. The former looked the part when returning from a long layoff at Punchestown last month but there didn’t seem to be any excuses for his Naas loss.

It would be dangerous to start underestimating the Naas race and Roi Des Francs has probably found his true calling over fences. He is a thorough stayer and the demands of the RSA or even the four-miler at Cheltenham would play to his strengths and possibly Pont Alexandre might be one for the intermediate distance of the JLT Novices Chase.

Another quality Mullins-trained novice was on show at Warwick last weekend. Black Hercules turned in an outstanding round of jumping to make it two from two over fences. He is another stayer of substance and will warrant the utmost respect whatever direction he is pointed in at Cheltenham.

Another undefeated novice, Shaneshill, is among the forerunners for the JLT but his last start at Naas would suggest that he will need to brush up his jumping. Indeed a better alternative for that race could be Killultagh Vic who really warrants a section on his own following a miracle victory in a Grade 2 at Leopardstown last weekend.

When he went down on his nose after the last fence, Killultagh Vic looked to have lost all chance of victory but he somehow got going again and Ruby Walsh conjured a tremendous rally from his charge which enabled the pair to get back on top late on. This was a wondrous victory but prior to the last fence, Killultagh Vic had posted an impressive and assured display which served notice that he was well worth his place in top company.