Star Studded Entries Announced For the 21st Hennessy Gold Cup

Hennessy, together with Leopardstown Racecourse, is delighted to announce the list of entries that will battle it out for the greatly anticipated Hennessy Gold Cup, which takes place on Sunday, 6th February, 2011. Each of the horses will face stiff competition in this Grade 1 chase, as some of Ireland’s highest calibre trainers, jockeys and owners take to the track. 

The Noel Meade-trained Pandorama, impressive winner of the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival last month, heads a list of 18 for the Hennessy Gold Cup.  Pandorama, a dual Grade 1 winner last season as a novice chaser and the son of Flemensfirth has always been held in the highest regard by Meade. He went a long way towards justifying his trainer’s faith when he won the Lexus, pulling six lengths clear of his closest pursuer.  Now the winner of three Grade 1 contests in three visits to the Foxrock track, he has earned his place at the top of ante post betting lists for this year’s Hennessy Gold Cup.

The Lexus second and third, Money Trix and Joncol, look set to take on Pandorama again and, given that both horses are coming into the race off a break, both can legitimately be expected to improve. Joncol battled on gamely to beat Cooldine by a neck in last year’s Hennessy Gold Cup, and it is probable that this race has been Paul Nolan’s gelding’s target for some time.

The Willie Mullins-trained Cooldine is joined in the list of entries by two stable companions Barker, winner of a listed chase at Tramore on New Year’s Day on his first run since last April, and Kempes, winner of the Grade 1 Champion Novice Chase at last year’s Punchestown Festival, and still in with a chance when he unseated his rider at the second last in the Lexus

One of the most interesting entries from across the water is the Paul Nicholls-trained Pride Of Dulcote, the subject of considerable support for the Cheltenham Gold Cup currently. 

Caroline Sleiman from Moët Hennessy said, “We are delighted with the caliber of entries to the Hennessy Gold Cup race this year and could not have hoped for more well known and respected owners, trainers and jockeys to be there on the day. We wish them all the best of luck and are looking forward to an enjoyable day.”

Tom Burke, General Manager at Leopardstown, said: “We are once again delighted with the quality of entries for the four Grade 1 races on Hennessy Gold Cup Day. This will be the 21st running of the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown and we are very proud to be part of one of the longest running and most successful sports’ sponsorships in the country. It is very exciting to see the first three home in the Lexus Chase back to do battle again in the Hennessy and we look forward to a thrilling days racing.”

For further information on Hennessy, please visit http://www.hennessy.com

For further information or to buy tickets for the Hennessy Gold Cup, visit www.leopardstown.com or www.hennessybestdressed.ie

Comments are closed.