Last Instalment looks like getting a shot at maintaining his perfect record around Leopardstown in Sunday's Hennessy Gold Cup although trainer Philip Fenton has warned he needs to up his game to Grade One level again.
The former top novice returned from almost two years on the injury sidelines with a hugely encouraging effort in last month's Kinloch Brae at Thurles when third to Texas Jack, a run that has put Last Instalment back into the Cheltenham Gold Cup reckoning.
That’s no more than the Gigginstown-owned star looked destined for when putting together back-to-back Grade One victories at Leopardstown as a novice only for leg problems to intervene.
The second of those top-flight wins came in the Dr PJ Moriarty Chase on Hennessy day in 2012 and now the nine-year-old is set to put his Cheltenham credentials on the line in the €160,000 centrepiece itself. "He has to do his final bit of work on Wednesday but it looks like we'll go to the Hennessy,"said Fenton who had been considering the following week's Red Mills Chase at Gowran as an alternative. "I'd like the ground to be soft or good to soft. You wouldn't like it better considering he has had a leg," he added yesterday.
Hugely encouraged
The Co Tipperary-based trainer was hugely encouraged by Last Instalment's comeback effort at Thurles when the horse ran understandably keenly for much of the race before tiring in the closing stages.
“He’s come out of it brilliant and not missed a day since. You would expect there to be a little bit more improvement to come from him but he will have to step up to the mark, going to a Grade One from a Grade Two,” Fenton said.
The shape of Sunday's big fixture, which includes four Grade One races, will become more clear after today's five-day declaration stage although champion trainer Willie Mullins has already outlined plans that will see Rubi Ball attempt to give him a staggering 10th Hennessy success, backed up by Champagne Fever in the Moriarty, and Ivan Grozny in the Gala Spring Juvenile Hurdle.
Rubi Ball's first run over fences in Ireland yielded a fine third to Bobs Worth in the Lexus over Christmas and the French import has continued to please his trainer since.
"I was delighted with him in The Lexus. A lot of those French chasers don't take to English and Irish fences but I was very pleased with the way he jumped and I am looking forward to going back to Leopardstown on Sunday," Mullins said yesterday. "I think he will improve for that run and the way the weather is shaping up, I think the ground is going to suit him."
Made mistake
Champagne Fever ruined his chance at Christmas with a second-last fence mistake but schooled well at Punchestown on Sunday and Mullins reported: "All being well I'll run Champagne Fever. As he goes on in his career, he is going to be a three-miler. He jumps well and it was uncharacteristic of him to make that mistake at Christmas time, so we'll step him up in trip and see how he gets on. We can always come back in trip at Cheltenham – we did that last year with him. But we'll let him take his chance on Sunday first."
In contrast to Rubi Ball, another French import, the Triumph Hurdle joint-favourite Ivan Grozny, will like ground conditions better than he’s likely to get on Sunday but is still likely to appear. “The ground probably won’t suit him – he did win on it at Naas, but he would prefer better ground,”the trainer said. “He needs the experience and while he disappointed me at Christmas time, he was good at Naas and he is a horse that shows me plenty at home.”
