British trainers not tempted by Irish prizemoney at Leopardstown
PAUL NICHOLLS may be the acknowledged Saturday big-race specialist but he wins next to nothing on Sundays.
Leopardstown stages the Grade One Hennessy Gold Cup
And it’s a case of ‘plus ca change’ this weekend when Leopardstown stages the Grade One Hennessy Gold Cup worth 150,000 euros.
It is a sum that is not to be sneezed at but English trainers have once again left the race alone.
There is not a single entry from an English trainer, which is the case with most Irish races on Sundays.
The first two in last year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup – Lord Windermere and On His Own – could line up, although the owners of On His Own also have Boston Bob in the race.
Coral’s odds: 3 Carlingford Lough, Boston Bob, 4 On His Own, 5 Foxrock, 6 Lord Windermere, 14 First Lieutenant, 20 Home Farm, 25 Roi Du Mee, Texas Jack.
Nicholls has left the other three Grade Ones to the Irish too, preferring a comfortable Sunday lunch locally to a flight to Dublin.
Willie Mullins has five of the 12 entries for the Grade One Deloitte Novices’ Hurdle – Black Hercules, Alvisio Ville, McKinley, Nichols Canyon and Sempre Medici – and the top-rated novice in the Grade One Flogas Chase, Valseur Lido.
Ireland’s champion trainer will have two runners in the Grade One Gala Retail Spring Hurdle, a trial for the JCB Triumph Hurdle. Ruby Walsh will be on the favourite, Kalkir, and Mullins also intends running Petite Parisienne, runner-up to Chatham House Rule on her first start since coming over from France.
So 410,000 euros up for grabs in all and Nicky Henderson, David Pipe, Nigel Twiston-Davies and others this side of the Irish Sea simply can’t be tempted.
Plus ca change.