Weather watch for trainers

THE BETTING for Sunday’s Hennessy Gold Cup is dominated by British-trained horses but a poor weather forecast could yet impact on the British team at Leopardstrown.

Air Force One’s trainer Charlie Mann yesterday said he is considering running his Grade One winner against Denman in Saturday’s Aon Chase at Newbury instead.

“If we’re going to Ireland we will have to send him out early, certainly no later than midweek and I shall be taking a close look at the weather forecast,” he reported.

“He has run well at Newbury but I realise if we meet Denman on a good day we wouldn’t see which way he went,” Mann added.

“It’s a double-edged sword because at Leopardstown he will probably have to meet Exotic Dancer and Neptune Collonges.”

The latter is an 11 to 8 favourite with Paddy Power to get his revenge on Exotic Dancer who took advantage of the Paul Nicholls-trained star’s fall to land the Lexus during Christmas.

Last year’s winner The Listener is also an intended starter while the main home hope appears to be Jim Dreaper’s Welsh National hero Notre Pere.

However, Tom Mullins reported yesterday that Chelsea Harbour is unlikely to take up his Grade One option and said:

“He will probably go for the Bobbyjo. The Hennessy looks like it is going to be a very hot race with four or five horses rated much higher than him.”

Also on Sunday the Deloitte Novice Hurdle is likely to see the latest appearance by Hurricane Fly.

HENNESSY GOLD CUP BETTING: (Paddy Power): 11-8 Neptune Collonges, 2 Exotic Dancer, 7 The Listener, 10 Notre Pere, 12 Air Force One, 16 Mister Top Notch and Snowy Morning, 20 Bar.