In Compliance will start in depleted field

The defending champion, Beef Or Salmon, could end up facing just a handful of opponents in Saturday's Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown but one of them will be the new rising star of the chasing game in Ireland, In Compliance.

Trainer Michael O'Brien confirmed yesterday that In Compliance will put his Cheltenham Gold Cup credentials to the test over three miles at the weekend with Barry Geraghty riding.

The partnership put up an impressive display to beat War Of Attrition in December's John Durkan Memorial but this will be In Compliance's first ever attempt at the three-mile distance. "He's fine so far and the plan is to run," O'Brien said. "I will leave Forget The Past in as well but that's just in case something goes wrong with the other horse. They worked during the week and there's no comparison between them."

Instead, Forget The Past will bid to repeat his 2006 victory in Gowran's Red Mills Chase but he is only one of a growing collection of likely absentees from the final Hennessy field.

Today's forfeit stage will probably see a serious cut in the dozen names currently remaining in the race and one of them may well be the 2005 Grand National hero, and last year's Hennessy runner-up, Hedgehunter. His trainer Willie Mullins said yesterday: "I'm not one hundred per cent happy with him at the moment. He's a doubtful runner at this stage."

With Back In Front on the sidelines for the rest of the season, and Hi Cloy having an alternative option at Ascot, Saturday's highlight could see a very small field.

The Listener is a likely traveller from Robert Alner's Dorset yard but he requires testing conditions. Southern Vic, Slim Pickings and Patsy Hall are other possible starters while Watson Lake was fourth to Nickname yesterday.