Top trainer Mouse Morris is pondering whether or not to change tack with

First Lieutenant

and run the star chaser in Leopardstown’s Hennessy

Gold Cup

next month.

In the past Morris has often skipped running his top Cheltenham candidates at the prestigious Hennessy fixture and instead taken them straight to the festival without a spin since Christmas, a policy that famously paid off with War Of Attrition in 2006.

That has certainly been the pattern with First Lieutenant who never appeared between Christmas and Cheltenham in any of the previous three seasons, a policy that has reaped dividends with a Neptune defeat of Rock On Ruby in 2011, and runner-up placings in the 2012 RSA and last year’s Ryanair behind Cue Card.

Now that Sir Des Champs is on the injury sidelines for the rest of the season, First Lieutenant appears to be Gigginstown Stud’s number one candidate for more Cheltenham Gold Cup glory in March and is as low as 8/1 in some ante-post lists for the blue-riband.

First Lieutenant is also entered in the Ryanair again, for which he is a 5/1 shot behind Cue Card whose principal festival option appears to be the Gold Cup.

Discussion with owner
Morris said yesterday a discussion with owner Michael O'Leary about a Cheltenham target will take place closer to the time, possibly after a tilt at the Hennessy, run over the course and distance of First Lieutenant's admirable runner-up placing to Bobs Worth in the Lexus during Christmas.

“He might well run in the Hennessy. It’s a Grade One and they’re very hard to pass by. And he’s a year older now, a different kind of horse, stuffier, so we will see.

“But if you’re asking me now, I would say we have every intention of running in the Hennessy,” the Co Tipperary based trainer said.

"The other thing is I didn't have a straight run with him before Christmas. There were a few hiccups with him, so running at Leopardstown might help," Morris added.

Reappear tomorrow
Gigginstown's potential Gold Cup hand also includes the injury-dogged pair of Bog Warrior and Last Instalment who is due to reappear tomorrow in the Kinloch Brae at Thurles.

Morris has another potential Ryanair runner in March with Rathlin, as short as 14/1 for the Cheltenham race, who could return to action this weekend.

The most valuable pot on offer in Ireland this weekend is the €100,000 Underwriting Exchange Handicap Chase at Fairyhouse which attracted an entry of 16 horses at yesterday’s forfeit stage.

They include one British possible, Tom George’s Majala, runner-up to Sire De Grugy at Chepstow in October. Colbert Station, one of four JP McManus horses left in, tops the weights.

Sunday’s other Fairyhouse feature is the Grade Three Solerina Mares Novice Hurdle with 10 entries that include the Christmas winner Theatre Bird as well as Vicky De L’Oasis and Gitane Du Berlais from Willie Mullins’s yard.