Imperial Call's injury problems make his name the most notable omission from the 18 entries still left in the Hennessy Gold Cup on February 6th, but omens look favourable for a meaningful cross-channel challenge to Florida Pearl, Dorans Pride, et al, in the shape of the King George flop Looks Like Trouble.
The entries released yesterday feature seven British-trained horses, but Looks Like Trouble, last season's SunAlliance Chase winner, looks the most likely of them to run.
His trainer, Noel Chance, said yesterday: "Unless ground conditions preclude us, the owner and myself are very motivated by Leopardstown. The horse is also in the Pilar Chase and the new race at Newbury, but the Hennessy comes a week before that which interests us.
"If there is a dry week on the run-up to February 6th I'd say there is a good chance we will go to Leopardstown. The ground was all against him in the King George, but the horse is bouncing today, he's got a great skin on him and I couldn't be happier."
As for the prospect of taking on the best of the home team - Florida Pearl, Dorans Pride and Rince Ri - Dublin-born Chance said: "You have to respect horses of that calibre, but, while I wouldn't rubbish their chances, if we're talking about winning the Gold Cup we have to run a big race at Leopardstown."
There doesn't appear to be anything of that calibre at Naas today, but none of them will get a chance to produce a counter argument if the track doesn't pass a 7.30 inspection this morning. The inspection is being made because of a forecast of very cold overnight conditions.
If the fixture does get the green light, it should be a profitable day for Charlie Swan both under his trainer and jockey caps.
Swan trains and rides No Discount in the novice hurdle and, on the evidence of his last race at this track, the gelding should be hard to beat. Previously a scorer at Punchestown, No Discount stepped up to run the highlyrated Champagne Native to a head with the likes of Kirmar and Vanilla Man in behind. A repeat of that effort should be good enough today.
Swan gets the leg up from Pat Hughes onto Topacio in the opener and it's difficult to make a case for anything else in the race on the strength of Topacio's seven-length second to Young American at Leopardstown. Montana Glen upset the warm favourite Shannon Gale on the last day of Leopardstown's Christmas meeting, and Al O'Connell's young giant of a steeplechaser looks well capable of following that up in the novice chase. Aidan O'Brien can saddle Half The Pot to take the bumper.
After winning at Clonmel and Punchestown, Carrigeen Lily again looks to have suitable conditions in the handicap chase, while Star Service is marginally preferred in the Beginners Chase.
