RACING NEWS:SUNDAY'S €180,000 Hennessy Gold Cup looks something of a last-chance saloon for Ireland to find a credible challenger to Denman and Kauto Star at Cheltenham next month, but Willie Mullins is hopeful Cooldine can step up to the mark.
Last season’s RSA Chase winner was a bitter disappointment when pulled up before the last in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas, but Mullins was yesterday optimistic of a much better performance in a race the champion trainer has practically farmed in the past.
Mullins has won the Hennessy six times, including a remarkable four-timer for Florida Pearl, who carried the same Archie O’Leary colours as Cooldine will sport on Sunday.
“I’ve put a line through what happened at Christmas. I’ve been very happy with him and I’m hoping for a big run at the weekend,” he said.
Cooldine is a 16 to 1 shot in some lists for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, much the shortest of the Irish-trained contenders remaining in the blue riband, but a big performance at the weekend could re-establish his claims to be the major threat to the Denman-Kauto Star duopoly.
Mullins has three other possible Hennessy runners to declare at today’s forfeit stage, but he indicated Snowy Morning could miss out.
“I’d say Snowy is doubtful to run and we will see how the others (J’y Vole and Glencove Marina) work in the morning before deciding what we will do,” he added.
The best of Ireland’s staying chasers could end up fighting out the Hennessy, with Joncol being possibly joined in the race by Notre Pere, who was runner-up to Neptune Collonges in last year’s renewal.
Dessie Hughes is set to be doubly represented by Schindlers Hunt and In Compliance, but the Curragh trainer ruled out his Grade One-winning novice Rare Bob.
The Punchestown festival winner has had just the one start this season, finishing last behind Scotsirish over two miles at Fairyhouse, but remains one of the Cheltenham Gold Cup outsiders.
“He lost a shoe the last day and cut another leg, so we had to ease off. He’s a week behind so he can’t run in the Hennessy. We’ll possibly look at the Red Mills at Gowran on the 13th. We’ll have him ready for that,” Hughes said.
“This year the Gold Cup looks to be about Denman and the other horse (Kauto Star), so we might all be wasting our time. We could look at the Ryanair with Rare Bob, or maybe one of the handicaps, even though he’s rated 155 and the English handicapper might give him more,” he added.
For many fans, Sunday’s action, which features four Grade One contests, will centre on the Deloitte Hurdle in which the red-hot Supreme favourite Dunguib who is set to have his final Cheltenham prep’.
“He’s certainly not over-trained for Sunday, but we like to think he is good enough to win,” trainer Philip Fenton said.
Sunday’s other Grade One event is the Dr PJ Moriarty Novice Chase, but one absentee from that, and any alternative over the weekend, is Mikael D’Haguenet.
“He won’t be running this weekend. Nothing has changed. I’m still looking to start him off in a Beginners Chase somewhere,” Mullins confirmed.
Carlito Brigante heads the list of possible acceptors five-day today for the Spring Juvenile Hurdle, which also includes the highly-touted Alaivan, as the pecking order for Ireland’s challenge on the Triumph Hurdle is sorted out.
Captain for Naas
THE ARKLE favourite Captain Cee Bee will have his final Cheltenham warm-up at Naas on Saturday, writes Brian O’Connor.
Eddie Harty’s 2008 Cheltenham festival winner is one of 10 entries for the BBA Ireland Opera Hat Novice Chase, his first start since dramatically falling at the last at Leopardstown over Christmas.
Captain Cee Bee was held by most observers to be going better than the winner Sizing Europe at the time, and was cut to 4 to 1 favourite in some lists for the Arkle at Cheltenham on the back of subsequent form.
“He had a fortnight off after Leopardstown and that was always the plan,” Harty said yesterday. “He was unlucky to come down. He has been schooled since at the Curragh and I’ve been happy with him.”
The pick of his opposition this weekend could be Major Finnegan, fourth in the Irish Arkle, and Fosters Cross.
Another possible big-name attraction at Naas may be another former Cheltenham festival hero, Cousin Vinny, who is entered for the Beginners Chase.
In other news, it was revealed the Tote have taken over sponsorship of the Galway Plate.
