Morris has high hopes for China Rock

Trainer Mouse Morris feels China Rock is capable of challenging for a place in Friday’s Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival.

In his last outing the nine-year-old finished a disappointing fifth in the Hennessey Gold Cup. However, Morris explained that his charge was struggling with a minor lung infection at Leopardstown in February and has backed China Rock to bounce back in the Gold Cup.

“He’s ready to run and there’s some good place money to pick up. I was a little bit disappointed with his run in the Hennessy in Leopardstown as he looked like the winner two out, but he’s a different horse on this better ground,” Morris told the British Horseracing Authority.

“At the time I thought he must have just blown up, but he actually scoped badly afterwards with a low-grade lung infection and still wasn’t beaten that far on the day. If he can finish fourth, fifth or sixth, I’ll be happy.”

China Rock, who will be partnered by Andrew Lynch in the showpiece event at Cheltenham, is priced at 50/1 (each-way 1/4, 1,2,3) with bet365 to come out on top.

Last year’s winner Long  Run is the favourite with bet365 at 7/4, while double champion Kauto Star is available at 7/2.

Quito out to restore reputation in Irish Hennessey

Colm Murphy’s exciting chaser Quito de La Roque is a definite runner in Sunday’s feature Grade 1 Irish Hennessey Gold Cup at Leopardstown when he will be out to restore confidence in his chance to of being the main Irish hope against Long Run and Kauto Star in the Cheltenham Gold Cup on March 16, writes Elliot Slater.

The Gigginstown House Stud-owned gelding had carried all before him in rattling up a tremendous five-timer prior to tackling the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting, (for which he was sent off a strongly backed 13/8 market leader), but never appeared to be travelling with his usual zest under regular pilot Davy Russell and failed to land a blow in the race won impressively by Jonjo O’Neill’s Sychronised, eventually coming home third to the former Welsh Grand National winner, beaten 11-lengths. Those following the Cheltenham 2012 Betting will have been disappointed by his efforts.

Murphy had confidently expected his charge to take all the beating in the Lexus Chase and was probably the most disappointed man on the racecourse after the eclipse of his rising star, but now feels that the previous victory of the son of Saint Des Saints when outgunning champion chaser Sizing Europe by a length-and-a-quarter to land the Grade 1 JNwine.com Chase at Down Royal the previous month, might well have taken more out of the eight-year-old than had appeared the case at the time and anyone looking at the Betfair Gold Cup Betting will be keeping an eye on his next outing.

The County Wexford handler is very hopeful that he has Quito De La Roque back to his best and the current 3/1 second-favourite for the Irish Hennessey, (behind Willie Mullins’ Quel Esprit, the 5/2 market leader), will surely have his current odds of up to 25/1 in the ante-post market for the Cheltenham crown slashed should he return to winning ways in Sunday’s fascinating, high quality three-mile contest.

Oscar set for Down Royal bow

Connections of Oscars Well (14/1 with bet365 for 2012 World Hurdle) say the hurdler will make his first appearance of the season in the WKD Hurdle at Down Royal next month.

A lot is expected of the six-year-old, after winning two Grade 1 contests in Ireland last season – including the Navan Novice Hurdle.

A mistake at the final flight cost Oscars Well the chance of claiming the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, but he could head back to the Festival in 2012.

Trainer Jessica Harrington has indicated that she will persevere with her charge over hurdles and says she is “happy with him at the moment”.

Harrington added: “I don’t think he’s too far away from a run and he could start off in the race for second season novices at Down Royal. We’ll see how he gets on there before we make any other plans.”

The Down Royal race is set to take place on November 4, with Harrington’s Bostons Angel (25/1 ante post Cheltenham Gold Cup) also expected to run at that meeting.

Denman connections turn to Thomas

Sam Thomas is set to partner Denman (5/1 in the ante post betting with Bet365) again for the Hennessy Gold Cup on November 27 following Ruby Walsh’s surgery after a double fracture to right leg at Down Royal on Saturday.

Denman won his second Hennessy under Walsh last year before Tony McCoy partnered the 10-year-old for the rest of the campaign.

However, the champion jockey has been retained by JP McManus so connections are set to reunite Denman with Thomas.

The pair have enjoyed success in the past, winning the Hennessy in 2007 before sharing Cheltenham Gold Cup success the following year.

Denman’s (10/1 2011 Cheltenham Gold Cup ante post betting with Bet365) owner Paul Barber said: “I shall be very surprised if Sam doesn’t ride Denman in the Hennessy and I hope he wants to ride him.

“It was extremely good of Tony to ride him for us last year having got special permission from Mr McManus, but this year he’ll probably have one of his to ride in the Hennessy.

“We haven’t actually offered Sam the ride, but he knows all about it. The horse is in very good form.”

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Kauto Star v Denman In Cheltenham Gold Cup

Kauto Star versus Denman has been one of the most intriguing battles in contemporary horse racing and hostilities between the two horses are set to resume on Friday in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Ahead of the big race, trainer Paul Nicholls has described Kauto Star as “lethal” as he aims to become only the fifth horse ever to win the blue riband event three times. He is 8/11 favourite to succeed.

Last season, Kauto Star became the first horse to reclaim the prize and Ruby Walsh’s mount will increase his legacy should he win again. If he does win, he will become the first horse to win three Gold Cups non-consecutively.

He has had good form, winning his fourth consecutive King George VI Chase on Boxing Day, battering Desert Orchid’s record of four successes over five seasons in the process. The 10-year-old has been kept fresh and Nicholls is in bullish mood heading into Friday’s showpiece.

“It is impossible to say he is better than ever as it was such a wonderful performance at Kempton,” said Nicholls.

“He worked with Master Minded last weekend and there are very few who can do what he did with a champion chaser.

“When he is fit he is lethal and there is nothing I can say to put anyone off him.”

Denman won the Gold Cup in 2008 and he will provide Kauto Star’s strongest opposition. He is 9/2 to repeat his achievement of two years ago.

Last season, Denman finished second to Kauto Star in the Gold Cup. Like last year, his preparation hasn’t been particularly good – his last appearance saw him leave jockey Tony McCoy on the floor in the Aon Chase, with Tricky Trickster prevailing.

However, Nicholls knows how much of a threat Denman is;

“Denman did a very good piece of work with Tricky Trickster at the weekend. The more you do and the more you drill him the better he gets.”

“You have to remember that before he ran in the Aon he gave 22lb to What A Friend and he went on to win the Lexus.

“He did have a little setback, but he is over that and do not write him off.”

Many bookmakers are billing the race as Kauto Star versus Denman. However, one bookie has offered 50/1 that Kauto Star will finish last. Denman has been priced at 20/1 to suffer such embarrassment.