PAUL NICHOLLS has reiterated that Lexus Chase winner What A Friend is only likely to run in the Cheltenham Gold Cup if something untoward happens to stablemates Kauto Star and Denman.

Owned by Ged Mason and Alex Ferguson, the youngster is more likely to head to Aintree and Punchestown in the spring.

What A Friend was second to Denman, in receipt of 22lb, in the Hennessy Gold Cup on his only other start this season.

“I’ll enter him in the Irish Hennessy but I suspect it will come a bit quick,” said Nicholls.

“He’s had two runs now and he’ll probably melt a little bit, so my inclination is to leave him fresh and go straight to Aintree and then Punchestown in the spring.

“He’ll have a Gold Cup entry, just in case anything happens, but if Denman and Kauto ran I suspect I’ll have a chat with Ged and Sir Alex and we’ll aim for Aintree.

“He’s a little bit quirky and doesn’t want to be in front too soon but he doesn’t enjoy it when the ground is that soft.

“He’ll be much better in the spring on some better ground.

“I don’t mind it when they have a few little quirks as he’s got a huge amount of ability, he’s only six and to have won a Grade One already is a fair effort.

“There was nowhere to run him over here so I thought it was a good move and it worked out that way,” he told At The Races.

Cooldine is to be given time to recover from the slight problem that saw him run under-par in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown.

Last season’s RSA Chase winner was found to be coughing after being pulled up in the big race on Tuesday. However, trainer Willie Mullins believes it is just a “hiccup” and should not prevent him lining up in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup in March.

“He gave a cough. I think he has a little sore throat, so we will give him time to get over that,” said the Co Carlow handler. “Hopefully he will be okay for Cheltenham. It’s only a hiccup I think.”

Cooldine is a top-priced 20 to 1 for the Gold Cup.

Meanwhile, Dessie Hughes is bullish about the prospects of Hardy Eustace in the Kathleen Clarke 80th Birthday Hurdle at Punchestown this afternoon.

Hughes believes the dual Champion Hurdle hero can land his first win for 13 months the day before he is officially 13 years old.

“If everything goes all right he should win that. He’s in good form,” said Hughes.

Hardy Eustace, who won the corresponding race in 2005, was last seen finishing sixth behind Oscar Dan Dan in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse after making most of the running.

He takes on six rivals with long-term absentees Glencove Marina and Wild Passion fascinating contenders for Willie Mullins and Noel Meade respectively.

Glencove Marina, a Grade One winner over timber, has been off the track with injury since running out a hugely impressive winner of the Paddy Fitzpatrick Memorial Novice Chase at Leopardstown in January last year. Wild Passion meanwhile, who has won twice at the highest level, is seeing the racecourse for the first time in over three years. King Of Ardcarne, Footy Facts, Hollywood Law and Southern Vic complete the line-up.