RACING:SUNDAY'S HENNESSY at Leopardstown provides the last opportunity for Irish hopes to force their way into the forefront of the Cheltenham Gold Cup picture.
It is 16 years since Imperial Call became the last Hennessy winner to go on and land steeplechasing’s blue-riband at the festival and Irish hopes for Cheltenham this year are being largely dismissed by bookmakers in ante-post betting.
Quito De La Roque, Quel Esprit and Jessies Dream are general 25 to 1 shots in a market dominated by the big two of Kauto Star and Long Run.
But with just over a month to go to the festival, a dominant display by one of them this weekend could change the face of the 2012 Gold Cup for Ireland.
Quel Esprit and Quito De La Roque are currently 7 to 2 joint-second favourites for the Hennessy behind Jonjo O’Neill’s Lexus winner Synchronised, with Jessies Dream a general 7 to 1 shot.
The Hennessy picture will become clearer after today’s five-day forfeit stage but Gordon Elliott is leaning towards reintroducing his RSA Chase runner-up, Jessies Dream, for a first start of the season at Leopardstown.
“We’ll give him a little bit of work and see whether we go for the Hennessy or go to Gowran Park, but we’re edging towards the Hennessy. He’s in good form and we’re very happy with him,” Elliott said yesterday.
“We had him in Fairyhouse in a schooling race two weeks ago and he went very well. At home he’s one of the best we have. He’s exciting and I’m looking forward to getting him back on the track,” the Co Meath-based trainer added.
Elliott also had news of his top novice hurdler Mount Benbulben, who started favourite to beat Boston Bob in a Navan Grade One in December only to injure his back. “He’s going to go straight to the Albert Bartlett,” Elliott said.
“He pulled a muscle in Navan and he was lame afterwards, but he’s fine now and is jumping out of his skin. He’s a proper horse and he won’t be far away.”
A couple of star names feature among the 11 entries left in Saturday’s BBA Ireland Opera Hat Novice Chase at Naas with Tony Martin keeping open the option of running his Drinmore winner Bog Warrior who hasn’t been seen since falling at Leopardstown over Christmas.
Blackstairmountain went on to win that Grade One event and also features among Saturday’s entries. Willie Mullins’s star subsequently flopped on heavy ground in the Arkle behind Flemenstar.
Essex in 2005 was the last Irish-trained winner of Newbury’s most prestigious handicap, now called the Betfair Hurdle, which will be run on Saturday with a couple of possible runners travelling from Ireland. Willie Mullins has left in last season’s County Hurdle winner Final Approach, while Edward O’Grady has the option of running Sailor’s Warn. Jessica Harrington has decided not to send her Boylesports Hurdle victor, Citizenship.
The race, however, looks likely to be dominated by the Paul Nicholls-trained Triumph Hurdle winner Zarkandar, who could earn a Champion Hurdle tilt if impressive this weekend.
“Zarkandar could well go and win and looks well-handicapped but whatever happens, win, lose or draw, there will be a lot to come and he has been trained with the Champion Hurdle in mind,” said Nicholls yesterday. “He’s a hell of a horse to know if he has improved. At home he’s workmanlike but on the track he’s different. He’s been working okay but is obviously better on the track.
“He’s had a racecourse gallop and has done plenty but I’m in the dark as much as anyone. He could win and be a good thing, unless he needs the run more than we thought, but he’s done enough work. Saturday will tell us a lot more.” The Newbury authorities are hopeful of racing going ahead at the weekend despite the current bad weather.
