Trafford to skip Hennessy

Leading Hennessy Gold Cup fancy Trafford Lad will miss the prestigious handicap after suffering a setback.

The Grade One-winning novice chaser ran a fine race on his reappearance at Naas last month, finishing under two lengths behind subsequent Paddy Power Gold Cup hero Tranquil Sea in the Poplar Square Chase.

Lar Butler’s seven-year-old had been as low as 10-1 for Newbury’s November 28 highlight but Sean Tiernan, representing his owners, says Trafford Lad will not be heading across the Irish Sea.

“He met with a slight setback a couple of days after his last run so he is going to have a little bit of rest and will now be trained for the Lexus,” Tiernan told At The Races.

“The horse will be on the easy list for a week or two and, at the moment, the plan is to go to Leopardstown.”