The JP McManus-owned First Gold may line up in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown, it emerged today.
Trainer Francois Doumen is considering the valuable race on February 10th for his star, who has now been displaced as favourite for the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup.
First Gold was a beaten favourite when finishing fourth behind Florida Pearl in the Pertemps King George VI Chase at Kempton on St Stephen’s Day, a race he was bidding to win for the second year.
Doumen told the Racing Postthe Hennessy was the "first option" for the nine-year-old but another possibility was the Aon Chase at Newbury on February 9th.
"It's quite ideal timing to prepare him for the Gold Cup at Cheltenham and, having discussed the idea with Mr McManus and his team, we all fancy the idea of going to Leopardstown. "I've never had a runner over jumps in Ireland," he said.
Florida Pearl and the Frances Crowley-trained Sackville, winner of the Peterhouse Group Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby in November, are other possibles in the Hennessy.
