LEOPARDSTOWN PREVIEW:THE €180,000 Hennessy Gold Cup may be the centrepiece of tomorrow's Grade One card at Leopardstown but there is little doubt about Dunguib's role as the central figure - if he shows up.

Trainer Philip Fenton intends to walk the track before finally committing his superstar novice to the Deloitte Hurdle and Dunguib's absence would be a major blow to a card containing four top-flight races on the road to Cheltenham.

"We have had a world of rain in the last 24 hours so the ground will be heavy. We could walk the track on Saturday evening, or if not, certainly bright and early on Sunday morning," he said yesterday.

"There are only five weeks to Cheltenham and the last thing we want on Sunday is a real grueller on heavy ground," added Fenton, who appeared to finally rule out any late-switch for Dunguib from the Supreme at Cheltenham to the Champion Hurdle itself.

"We've decided that he should run in the Supreme this year and bypass the Champion. The Supreme will do for us, if we're good enough," he said.

The Leopardstown authorities will have a more short-term view of things this weekend, although it must be encouraging for Dunguib fans that the track is famously well-drained, a point proven more than ever after the "will he-won't he" saga surrounding Sea The Stars last autumn.

Brave Inca was the last to bring off the Deloitte-Supreme double, in 2004, and in Cheltenham terms, it will be Dunguib's performance that will be the principal focus of a card worth over €460,000.

In contrast the Hennessy looks a real head-scratcher of an event with the connections of the two main home hopes seemingly eager not to be favourite, while Nicky Richards, trainer of the sole cross-channel raider, Money Trix, appears a bit miffed he isn't.

"If he was trained by Paul Nicholls he would certainly be favourite. I suppose they think I'm some small-time trainer from the north of England," Richards said during the week.

Paul Nolan yesterday appeared to agree with that and pointed out how Money Trix finished ahead of Joncol in the Lexus, and would have caught What A Friend in another couple of strides.

Cooldine was pulled up sick that day but nevertheless the RSA winner has been the subject of an ante-post gamble to give Willie Mullins a seventh Hennessy victory.

However, Mullins hardly exuded confidence yesterday and said: "I can't understand why Cooldine has been so heavily backed. I said last week I was happy with him, which I am, but it is extraordinary the way that has been picked up. Money Trix and Joncol are the two to beat. I just want to see Cooldine perform on Sunday."

In the circumstances then it could be worth asking if any of them could have got to within five lengths of Neptune Collonges last year, which is what Notre Pere managed to do.

Jim Dreaper is expecting improvement from the Lexus, where Notre Pere was 15 lengths behind Money Trix , and the Co Dublin trainer appears to be quietly confident he has got the Welsh National winner back to his very best. That could be good enough.

With Secant Star and Alaivan waiting for Fairyhouse in two weeks time, and Carlito Brigante running in Musselburgh tomorrow, the Spring Juvenile Hurdle may not yield too many Triumph Hurdle clues but Pittoni looks the most likely winner.

The Dr PJ Moriarty Chase, though, looks a different kettle of fish with Weapons's Amnesty dropping back in trip to clash with Roberto Goldback, Zaarito and Cousin Vinny, who takes in a Grade One rather than wait for a Beginners Chase.

With question marks over some of these in terms of distance and jumping, the progressive Roberto Goldback looks the safest option, while a more patiently ridden Steviemac can recoups MCR losses in the two-mile handicap hurdle.

Agus A Vic goes for three-in-a-row in the hunters chase and can defy both Ballistraw and the former Grade One winner Travino.