Danoli's trainer Tom Foley moved swiftly yesterday to downplay any chance of a clash with the Turf Club should his recuperating stable star run in the Hennessy Gold Cup in three weeks' time.
A newspaper report yesterday morning said that Foley intends instructing his jockey to pull up Danoli after the horse has jumped just a circuit of the Hennessy track, thereby leaving himself open to Turf Club censure for using the racecourse as a training ground.
Danoli hasn't raced since October of 1998 due to leg problems but Foley remains hopeful of getting the 12-year-old back to fitness in time for the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Danoli, who won the 1994 SunAlliance Hurdle at Cheltenham and the 1997 Hennessy, is a 50 to 1 shot for this year's Gold Cup.
In the report, Foley was quoted as saying: "He's been off for the best part of two seasons and I'm fighting a race against time. I won't have him fit enough for the Hennessy and what I would like to do is give him one circuit and then pull him up."
Foley, clearly irritated, said: "I've no intention of getting on the wrong side of the stewards. I haven't even considered a jockey yet, so giving instructions to a jockey is only a laugh."
He added: "I've no intention of using the race as a school but it's unlikely our horse will be good enough after nearly two years off to take on good fit horses. We know Danoli's good but he's not a machine."
Foley repeated that keeping Danoli sound is his first priority, but if the horse remains sound the Hennessy could be his first race back, principally because there are so few alternatives.
"I don't see any advantage in running him with 12st against horses with 9st.
"If Leopardstown had a race on Hennessy day where he had to give eight or 10 pounds to the others, I'd be happy to go for it. As everybody knows, a race to Danoli means everything. To him one day on the racetrack is worth two months work at home," Foley said.
"He could still run in the Hennessy if we are happy enough with him but there is no point in daydreaming. It's day to day with Danoli and if after a couple of schools we feel he cannot keep up there will be no point in going," he added.
The Turf Club chief executive Brian Kavanagh said yesterday he would be delighted if Danoli returned to action. As for any possible censure if the horse was pulled up, he commented: "It would be up to the acting stewards on the day."
Today's scheduled meeting at Tramore was postponed until next Thursday after an 11 a.m. inspection yesterday found the track unraceable following heavy rain. Fresh entries must be made tomorrow.
