CHINA ROCK earned himself a crack at next month’s Hennessy Gold Cup with a fine comeback effort over hurdles at Punchestown on Saturday. Off the track since picking up an injury in last season’s Cheltenham Gold Cup, China Rock showed the benefit of stem-cell surgery on his leg when returning to action at the weekend.

Trainer Mouse Morris has nominated a crack at Leopardstown’s Grade One highlight on February 12th as the big test of China Rock’s credentials for another crack at Cheltenham’s blue-riband event.

“He ran an absolute cracker, I couldn’t be more pleased with him. At one point I thought he was getting a second wind and coming to win it. It was a great run and showed he’s still got it,” Morris said.

“He’ll run in the Irish Hennessy next and then we’ll see how good he is. Considering the race he was running at Cheltenham last year before he got injured, you’d hope he wouldn’t be far away if he goes back there.

“We’ve got our fingers crossed he gets there and we’ll just take it one race at a time with him,” he added.

Jockey Robbie Power hopes Big Zeb makes it back to Cheltenham for a fourth crack at the Champion Chase in March, but also hopes Finian’s Rainbow makes it as Big Zeb’s former rider Barry Geraghty would be claimed to ride him.

“If Barry’s not riding for Nicky Henderson then he will ride Big Zeb, but if he isn’t I’m hoping I get to ride him,” he said. “He’s the best two-mile chaser I’ve ridden. I rode Newmill as well but this fellow is in a different league.”