Mann looks to Leopardstown

Charlie Mann is keen to target the Irish Hennessy for Air Force One in what would be the gelding’s warm-up race for the totesport Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival.

The German-bred horse was one of the leading opponents to Kauto Star in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on St Stephen's Day but injured himself early in the race, and was eventually pulled up by Barry Geraghty.

Reflecting on that, Mann said: “He tore ligaments in his back at the second fence, after which he was never travelling. When we took the saddle off he had a large haematoma that took a week to clear up.

“It has taken a while to get him right and he’s only just going back into light work, but Leopardstown (February 8) gives us plenty of time. I’m sure the course will suit him better than Kempton.

“He ran a cracker in the Hennessy at Newbury which is also a flat, left-handed galloping course.”

Air Force One, who scooped a big novice chase at last season’s Punchestown Festival, deserves a change of luck in the opinion of his trainer who concluded: “He did nothing wrong against Roll Along at Ascot and did everything right but still got beat (by Madison Du Berlais) in the Hennessy.

“Now we have a new year ahead of us and I hope he’ll show his best form in the Gold Cup.”

Mann had news on Shining Gale, who looked to be going well when falling in the lead in the Feltham Novices’ Chase at Kempton.

He said: “The handicapper put him up 5lb for his fall and he was a bit shaken up. He’s also just come back into light work and has been entered for a valuable novice chase in February.”