Pere shapes up for Hennessy raid

Notre Pere will bid to book his ticket for the Cheltenham Gold Cup with a prominent showing in the Irish Hennessy at Leopardstown next month.

The nine-year-old appeared a realistic challenger to the likes of Kauto Star and Denman after winning last season’s Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup, but things have so far not gone to plan this term.

He fell on his Down Royal reappearance and was a disappointment in the Betfair Chase at Haydock, but his fourth-place finish in the Lexus Chase over Christmas was a major improvement.

“He seems fine at the moment, although he hasn’t done too much since he ran,” said Dreaper.

“His performance was a lot more encouraging after what happened at Haydock, although he was still well beaten on the day.

“All being well, he’ll now go for the Irish Hennessy and hopefully he might improve a bit as he might just have needed it the last day.

“Hopefully the Hennessy will tell us whether it is worth going to Cheltenham or not as there probably isn’t much point going for the Gold Cup if his run in the Lexus is as good as he is.

“He’ll have an entry in the National at Aintree and that is certainly a possible at the moment.”

Willie Mullins also reports Cooldine on course for the Irish Hennessy.

Last year’s RSA Chase winner would be on something of a redemption mission, having been pulled up in the Lexus Chase on his comeback.

Mullins told At The Races: “He pulled too hard, and got very tired in the last half a mile, but he was inclined to do that on his first run back.

“We’ve a lot of ground to make up, but he’s still a good horse and I imagine we’ll now go to the Hennessy at Leopardstown.”