NEWS ROUND-UP: NOTRE PERE had to settle for second in last season's Hennessy Gold Cup, but Jim Dreaper is still taking encouragement from that performance as the Co Dublin- based trainer tries to bridge a 21-year gap in Sunday's €180,000 highlight.
It was in 1989 that Dreaper landed the race, then known as the Vincent O’Brien Gold Cup, with the mercurial Carvill’s Hill.
Notre Pere failed to add to it 20 years later, but that defeat to Neptune Collonges isn’t being under-estimated at the famous Kilsallaghan yard as the star stayer has another crack at one of the major steeplechase prizes on the Irish calendar.
“It was all very wonderful and impressive when he won at Punchestown, but in my opinion his best performance last year was when he was runner-up to Neptune Collonges in the Hennessy,” Dreaper said yesterday.
“He won the Welsh National, and then the ground came right for him at Punchestown where he looked fantastic.
“But the horses he beat there had mostly been to Cheltenham and Aintree, whereas he was quite fresh.
“I would hope he is back to the form he showed this week last year. We think he is well, and if everyone stands up on Sunday it will tell us the route we should be taking with him.
“If he’s not Gold Cup class, then we entered him in the English National on Monday and that could be an option,” he added.
Notre Pere showed signs of something like his best form on his last start in the Lexus behind What A Friend, which was encouraging after two anti-climactic starts to begin the season.
“At Down Royal he was in great order but fell, which was nobody’s fault. Then he ran appallingly at Haydock, which was a serious trainer mistake as he obviously wasn’t right.
“But the last day was encouraging. The old jumping attitude was back, as was his enthusiasm. He would have needed the race a bit, so there could be improvement,” Dreaper reported.
Notre Pere was one of just eight contenders left in the Hennessy at yesterday’s forfeit stage and he has been installed a 6 to 1 chance with some firms to go one better this time.
Ground conditions are always important for the Dreaper runner, and yesterday’s “soft” ground at Leopardstown shouldn’t change much ahead of Sunday’s prestigious meeting.
“There are bits of rain forecast but not much and I would say the ground won’t change much by Sunday,” said course manager Tom Burke.
Sunday’s card hosts four Grade One prizes, including Dunguib’s scheduled appearance in the Deloitte Hurdle as well as the Dr PJ Moriarty Novice Chase and the Spring Juvenile Hurdle.
However, the Hennessy remains the financial centrepiece of the day and last season’s top novice Cooldine has been installed a general 7 to 4 favourite to provide trainer Willie Mullins with a remarkable seventh victory in the three-mile feature.
The champion trainer has also left in J’y Vole, but it is the John Durkan winner Joncol who is rated Cooldine’s biggest threat by the bookmakers.
Money Trix is the sole British-based entry, and Nicky Richards’ grey remains on course to try to complete a Hennessy hat-trick for the visitors after Neptune Collonges last year and The Listener in 2008.
Dunguib will face eight opponents in the two-mile, two-furlong Deloitte, and they could include the Mullins duo of Fionnegas and Money Supreme.
However, odds of 2 to 7 for Sunday reflect the general view that this Deloitte will be little more than an exercise spin for Dunguib ahead of Cheltenham.
Mullins has a number of options this weekend for another former bumper champion, Cousin Vinny, but, significantly, they include the Grade One Dr PJ Moriarty Chase.
Mullins also has Citizen Vic in the race, and the trainer said yesterday: “We will wait until later in the week before deciding about Cousin Vinny. The form of his last race (when third to An Cathaoir Mor) is obviously working out well so we will see.”
Cousin Vinny is rated a 10 to 1 shot for the Moriarty by Paddy Power, who rate the Christmas runner-up Weapon’s Amnesty their 2 to 1 favourite.
Chasing Cars could pay dividends
A PAIR of “Fs” may not be the most encouraging form-figures going into a Beginners Chase, but making allowances for Chasing Cars could pay off at Down Royal, where a 7.30 inspection is planned for this morning, writes Brian O’Connor.
Jessica Harrington’s novice only made it to the first before coming down at Leopardstown over Christmas, but was still travelling well when exiting four out on his subsequent start at Punchestown. Both those mishaps indicate Chasing Cars has to brush up on his jumping, but they also came on the back of a fine return to action at Navan in November when Chasing Cars ran third to Sports Line in a good event.
C’est Ca was well backed in the MCR Hurdle and justified that confidence with a good third to Puyol, but he faces no easy task in today’s conditions hurdle.
Conceding weight to Rubi Light especially could be beyond C’est Ca, considering Rob Hennessy’s runner ran a good second to Mourad last time. Tom Taaffe gives Knocklayde Euro a run in the handicap hurdle and he could improve on a course and distance second in December.
