KAUTO TOPS A STAR LINE UP FOR THE HENNESSY GOLD CUP 2008
A top class field looks set to line up for the Grade 1 Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Sunday, February 10th.
Last year’s renewal of this contest produced one of the races of the year when the then 11-year-old Beef Or Salmon got up in the shadow of the post to deny The Listener and land the prize for the third time. Both old rivals will be back for more, but they may not have it all their own way this time. Trainer Paul Nicholls has entered four: last year’s Punchestown Gold Cup winner Neptune Collonges, recent Future Stars Chase winner Turko, the 2006 Sun Alliance Chase winner Star De Mohaison, and, intriguingly, Gold Cup favourite Kauto Star. While Star De Mohaison is the trainer’s most likely representative, and while Kauto Star has an alternative engagement at Ascot on February 16th, it is not beyond the bounds of possibility that the reining champion will make the trip.
Tom Taaffe has given Kicking King an entry. The 2005 Gold Cup hero will have his first race in more than two years at Fairyhouse on Wednesday and, providing all goes well there, the Hennessy is on his agenda. Other entries that catch the eye include last year’s Gold Cup runner-up Exotic Dancer, the Michael Hourigan-trained Mossbank, Davy Fitzgerald’s recent Pierse Chase winner Mister Top Notch and the Martin Brassil-trained Nickname, arguably the best two-mile chaser in the country at present.
The two other Grade 1 races on the day are both bursting with quality. Willie Mullins could hold the key to the Dr PJ Moriarty Chase with his four-strong entry, headed by recent course winners Glencove Marina and Scotsirish. They could be joined in the line up by Sky’s The Limit, Big Zeb, Perce Rock and Hobbs Hill. The Deloitte Novice Hurdle would be the ideal forum for the re-match between top novices Cork All Star and Muirhead, who may not have it all to themselves with Captain Cee Bee, Forpadydeplasterer and Whatuthink also among the entries.