Roche favours Hennessy

IRISH NEWS/News round-up: Le Coudray's excellent effort when runner-up to Best Mate in the Ericsson may have earned him a place in the Gold Cup betting but Christy Roche suspects it will be the Leopardstown version that can give the horse his glory day.

Roche is considering an audacious Grade One double for the JP McManus-owned star with the Ascot Chase at the end of the month being lined up before a tilt at the Hennessy Gold Cup just eight days later.

"There is no reason he could not run in the two of them providing he comes out of the Ascot race sound and well. I think there is a very strong chance he could run in both because the Hennessy could be his Derby," said the Curragh trainer yesterday.

Roche, who won the English, French and Irish Derbys during his illustrious riding career, is keen on the Hennessy, run over the same course and distance as the Ericsson, but not so much on the Cheltenham Gold Cup itself.

Le Coudray is a 25 to 1 shot for the Gold Cup with Ladbrokes but his trainer said: "Whether he is a Cheltenham horse or not I don't know. JP (McManus) has always had doubts about him on that sort of tight, left-handed track especially when the ground gets good like it usually does for the festival. Having said that he has an entry and if the ground was suitable I'm sure he would take his chance.

"But he is a big, gangly horse and I don't see Cheltenham as being ideal for him."

A trip to Ascot would mean a drop back to two and a half miles and a possible clash with the King George runner-up Tiutchev. It is the Hennessy, though, that appears Le Coudray's number one target, especially with no Best Mate around this time.

"He has come out of the Ericsson exceptionally well. We were a bit worried about the three miles, still are I suppose, but I know he is better now than he was going into Leopardstown," Roche added.

Michael Hourigan is also targeting Beef Or Salmon at the Hennessy but has ruled out a tilt at Cheltenham's Pillar Property Chase before then.

"His blood tests are now perfect. We will wait a fortnight before deciding what to do but the Pillar is out. The main thing is he is right again," Hourigan said.

There was also an upbeat report from the Curragh yesterday about the McManus-owned Martinstown, the 4 to 1 favourite for the Festival Bumper after winning his two starts to date at Naas and Fairyhouse.

"He is back from his holidays today and it is probably no harm he was away. He missed out on those bugs that have been floating about the place," Christy Roche reported.

Cheltenham also remains the objective for last season's Pierse Hurdle and Coral Cup winner Xenophon despite failing to win in two starts over fences.

Trainer Tony Martin said yesterday: "The plan is to go to Gowran on Thursday week and take things from there but Cheltenham is still on the agenda. He was a bit slow at Navan the first day and then he gave the first fence a fair thump giving Conor (O'Dwyer) no chance at Leopardstown."