The bookmakers believe Sunday's Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown looks like turning into a match between Imperial Call and Dorans Pride, and Jim Dreaper, trainer of the third favourite, Merry Gale, finds it hard to disagree with them. Dorans Pride has been installed as low as evens favourite for the £100,000 race with Sean Graham, who have Imperial Call at 5 to 4. Next best is Merry Gale at 8 to 1 but Jim Dreaper was adopting a low-key approach yesterday.
"Realistically, we are running for placemoney. If the other two run to their best, they are rated a stone better than Merry Gale, and with rain forecast for the weekend, we must have staying doubts about our horse," Dreaper said.
The Kilsallaghan, Co Dublin, trainer added that in trying to get Merry Gale to last out Sunday's three miles, Norman Williamson may have to curb the horses instincts for extravagant jumping.
"The tactics are difficult to implement but not the decision to adopt them. He'll just have to sit and suffer, which will mean wasting his best asset which is jumping and bowling along. What we want him to do is jump economically and give himself the chance of lasting it out. We're happy enough to have a go, though, as it's very hard for him to win handicaps," Dreaper added.
Another man who finds it difficult to avoid the match theory is Imperial Call's trainer Fergie Sutherland, who said yesterday: "Going on the ratings it looks like that," but he did add: "They have to pop around, though, and funny things can happen in racing."
Sutherland has been working Imperial Call on the Aghabullogue point-to-point circuit in Co. Cork, and said: "It's a good place to work, with a good hill, and he has been going up it like a lion."
A spokesperson for Michael Hourigan reported Dorans Pride to be in good shape for Sunday's race, which may yet attract two English runners, Go Ballistic and Hermes Harvest. "Provided he passes all his tests this week Go Ballistic will go to Ireland. Mick Fitzgerald will ride him," said the horse's trainer John O'Shea. The nine-year-old will face a rematch with Dorans Pride, who beat him by six lengths when the pair finished third and fourth respectively in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last season. He has not won a race for over a year but was close up when unseating Mick Fitzgerald four fences from home in a race won by Cool Dawn at Ascot last time.
"How far was he behind Dorans Pride in the Gold Cup? That form is still there and we have just got to find it, O'Shea added.
"He probably had a bit of a bug early on this season and he took time to come to hand. But he is on his way back and I thought he was running a very encouraging race last time." Hermes Harvest's chance of running was described as only "75-25".
"At the moment he is not a definite runner as he has got a slight problem," explained trainer Dai Williams.
"What I thought last week was a stone bruise is actually a little bit of infection in a joint so obviously it is in doubt - if he isn't right he won't go, it is as simple as that.
"But it should clear up in 48 hours and I'd say it is 75-25 for him running.
"He is due to go across on the ferry on Friday night and Seamus Durack will ride him."
