Hennessy Gold Cup 2012

3.45 Leopardstown

Hennessy Gold Cup (grade 1) (Class 1)  (5YO plus)

Winner €92,000

Advice: 1 pt win China Rock (5/1 general), 2 pts place China Rock (11/8 general) 

Bostons Angel: Improved out of all recognition to land three Grade 1’s in his novice season, ending with a hard fought win in the RSA Chase at the festival; Not out of things when falling in the Down Royal Champion Chase but not straightforward when last of three at Sandown latest; Could be value if right back to best in blinkers, but doesn’t look entirely trustworthy and form’s yet to work out; Plus for his supporters is that stable seems to be going much better now.

 

China Rock: Reached a high level over fences last season and has improved this year too, winning a couple of very smart Grade 2 chases before running third and fourth in Grade 1 events (travelling well until he injured himself in the Gold Cup too); Had a good blowout over hurdles at Punchestown last time and last time he got his ground over this trip he was an impressive winner, so can’t be discounted at all here.

Follow The Plan: Landed Punchestown Gold Cup in May but (and all due respect here) that as flukey a win as you’ll see, with several horses stones below their best; Respectable efforts on first two starts this season but still looks outclassed in this event.

Magnanimity: Learned the hang of chasing very quickly when winning second time out over fences; Beneficiary of fine tactical ride (admittedly did jump well) when turning over Jessies Dream a Leopardstown and then one of 4 in close RSA Chase finish (behind Bostons Angel); Should have improved a whole lot for his blowout when eighth in the Lexus and interesting here.

Quel Esprit: Has a patchy competition record, having failed to make the course three of the four times he’s run in Grade 1 company; Going very well in both P.J Moriarty and RSA Chase when falling, although he was no certainty to win either by any means and latter form not worked out; Safe to assume that he’ll run a big race after two confidence boosters in weak races but this a tougher task for him.

Roberto Goldback: Showed smart form on more than one occasion last year but always held, apart from when looking likely to land Punchestown Gold Cup (terrible renewal) when falling at last; Well held in Cheltenham handicap, beaten by Follow The Plan last time out, and passed over.

Treacle: Excllent second in Paddy Power Chase last time out but even revised mark still leaves him with upwards of 20lbs to find.

VERDICT: A race with a myriad of angles. Following the withdrawal of runaway Lexus winner Synchronised, last year’s RSA Chase second Jessies Dream, and with the Lexus third Quito De La Roque (widely expected to run a better race), Quel Esprit has assumed strong favouritism but it’s no done deal that he was going to beat Bostons Angel in either of their two meetings last year. Jessica Harrington’s horse should run better today than when a bitterly disappointing third at Sandown in December, although there still might be a question mark about him. CHINA ROCK’s yet to win a Grade 1 – the last 10 winners had – but his Gold Cup effort was that of a horse who had some class and with a hurdle run to start his comeback from the injury he suffered that day, he makes relative appeal at the prices even if not representing the value he did earlier this week. Magnaminity is an interesting proposition at his best although he would still need some serious improvement based on his eight in the Lexus.