The Irish Hennessy Gold Cup will be the feature race in an eight race card at Leopardstown in Ireland this Sunday (6th February).  The race is worth 180,000 euros and will be run over 3 miles.

Joncol (pictured) won this race last year and now that Pandorama is an absentee he could well win the race for the second year running. His trainer, Paul Nolan, is very happy with the condition of the horse and hopefully he will see off Cooldine again. Pride of Dulcote travels over from the Paul Nicholls yard and is the bookies antepost favourite. China Rock from the Mouse Morris yard was third behind Kauto Star at Down Royal. Whether his form is good enough to win this race remains to be seen, but at 12/1 he does appear to be the each way value. If Joncol wins impressively he could be on his way to Cheltenham in March. He is entered in the Gold Cup and the Ryanair Chase but with his huge frame would only be risked on soft or heavy ground.