Hi °C | Lo °C Trainer Paul Nicholls has confirmed that Neptune Collonges will stand his ground for the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup which will be run next Sunday as part of the rescheduled Leopardstown meeting which was due to take place tomorrow.
The meeting was abandoned because of snow on the course but most of the contenders in the big race look like taking part.
Nicholls said: “Leopardstown has always been the aim for Neptune Collonges but I have an alternative at Wincanton next Saturday just in case racing in Ireland is put off again.”
Fresh entries for this meeting must be made by 12 noon on Tuesday February 10 while the Hennessy Deloitte Novice Hurdle and the Dr PJ Moriarty Novice Chase revert back to original entries.
Fresh forfeits/supplementary entries are also to be made by 12 noon next Tuesday with final declarations on the following Friday.
Jim Dreaper feels frustrated that Notre Pere will not get his chance tomorrow but he too favours an outing next week.
Notre Pere is in the Hennessy but his main objective is the Aintree Grand National, although he will also run at Cheltenham.
Dreaper said: “I could have done without the postponement but these things happen. Notre Pere is in good form after his win in the Welsh Grand National and hopefully he will run a big race at Leopardstown.”
The Listener a previous winner of the Hennessy, is also still entered while Exotic Dancer who finished first in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown after Neptune Collonges fell at the last, looks like going for Jonjo O’Neill and Tony McCoy.
Meanwhile, trainer Willie Mullins has confirmed that bothhis star novice hurdlers, Cousin Vinny and Hurricane Fly, will run in the Deloitte Novices Hurdle at the same meeting and the pair look like dominating the race.
Trafford Lad is confirmed to be on target for the Moriarty Chase, weather permitting of course. He will be bidding to go one better than his most recent visit to the course at Christmas.
Trained by Eamon Sheehy and third in last season’s Ballymore Properties Novice Hurdle, Trafford Lad started favourite but was beaten by Casey Jones over three miles.
Prior to that, Trafford Lad won the Drinmore Chase at Fairyhouse when he defeated he defeated Forpaddydeplasterer.
Edddie O’Grady, who won the Moriarty in recent years with Nick Dundee and Pizarro, intends running Tranquil Sea.
Meanwhile in the hunter chase, Billy Magill from Ballynure is hopeful that his top point-to-point er Model Son will run in the the Raymond Smith Memorial race.
The plan is for Model, who has won two point-to-points, is to go to Cheltenham for the Christies Foxhunters’ Chase.
