Dorans Pride will either run in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup or not at all prior to his bid for Cheltenham Gold Cup glory in March. Michael Hourigan's 10-yearold, third to Cool Dawn when favourite for chasing's blue riband last year, showed his well-being with a decisive victory in the Ericsson Chase at Leopardstown last month and is currently 8 to 1 with William Hill to triumph at Cheltenham.

If Dorans Pride were to run in the Hennessy at Leopardstown on February 6th - a race he won last year - then it would set up a fascinating clash with Gold Cup second favourite Florida Pearl, who fell three out when still travelling well in the Ericsson.

But Hourigan yesterday virtually ruled out such a re-match. "Options are still open but at the moment it looks like we will go straight for the Gold Cup," said the trainer.

"He's in super form but I don't want him to have a hard race before Cheltenham. Therefore, I would only want to go for the Hennessy if it looked like being a soft touch - only a piece of work for him.

"If he doesn't run there then he won't have a race beforehand," he added.

Meanwhile, Katarino, the 7 to 1 favourite for the Elite Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, is set to by-pass an engagement at the same course this weekend. Trainer Nicky Henderson entered his four-year-old, an easy winner at Cheltenham in November, in the Grade Two Wragge & Co Finesse Four-Years-Old Hurdle, along with Blue Royal.

But he said yesterday: "We will see with Blue Royal but I think you can take it that Katarino won't run."

No further entries were added to another of Saturday's Cheltenham races, the Pillar Property Chase, after the race was reopened when only six horses were put in the race at Monday's five-day stage.

The entries are Martin Pipe's pair Cyborgo and Cyfor Malta, the David Nicholson-trained Escartefigue and Go Ballistic, last year's winner See More Business from Paul Nicholls's yard and Ruggiero trained in France by Thierry Civel.

Cyborgo, Cyfor Malta and Go Ballistic all have alternative engagements on Saturday and with Escartefigue having the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup the following week as his first preference the Pillar Chase looks like cutting up even more.

Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford has given upbeat bulletins on the progress of recent American acquisitions Worldly Manner and Comeonmom. The pair are among eight entries that the stable has made for the American Triple Crown.

The first leg of the Triple Crown is the Kentucky Derby on May 1st.