2012 Irish Hennessy Odds and Betting Preview: Quel Esprit hot favourite for Mullins/Walsh combo

LEOPARDSTOWN, IRELAND - Sunday’s Irish Hennessy is one of the most prestigious National Hunt races in Ireland, attracting the best staying steeple-chasers from the Emerald Isle and beyond to contest the €160,000 race.

The Irish Hennessy is considered as one of the leading trials for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, and the last horse to complete the double was Imperial Call back in 1996. The ill-fated Kempes won the Irish Hennessy by over four lengths last year, but disappointingly had to be pulled up by AP McCoy in the Gold Cup behind Long Run when sent off as a 9/1 shot.

The favourite this year is another talented chaser trained by the maestro Willie Mullins, the grey Quel Esprit. The son of up-and-coming French jumps sire Saint Des Saints is best-priced at 6/5 (bet £50 to win £60 profit) with Stan James and Paddy Power to win Mullins his eighth Irish Hennessy. Considering the trainer’s formidable record in the race Quel Esprit has to be respected, although his novice chasing campaign last season was something of a disaster, as he twice fell in Grade Ones and then ended his season on another low, being brought down by Kakagh when sent off as the 7/4 favourite.

This season has been much for promising for the grey, as he has recorded two facile victories in small fields at Naas and Thurles. The yielding ground will not harm his chances on Sunday, but this will be the first time in about a year that Quel Esprit has met top-quality opposition, even if the race has cut up this week with three major defections in the shape of Quito De La Roque, Synchronised and Jessies Dream. Punters who want to pre-empt the bookies can back Quel Esprit ante-post for the Cheltenham Gold Cup at odds of 25/1 with Paddy Power.

Paul Townend rode Quel Esprit to his two wins this season, but stable jockey Ruby Walsh takes over on Sunday and that has to be another positive for his chances. Walsh has partnered Quel Esprit on five occasions and they are yet to win together, but favourite-backers will be hoping that the grey-haired Irishman makes it sixth time lucky on Sunday.

Nevertheless, Quel Esprit still looks vulnerable, especially after Willie Mullins had plenty of favourite turned over at short prices at Thurles on Thursday. The next option for punters in the betting is 2011 RSA Chase hero Bostons Angel, who can be backed at 4/1 with Coral, but is as short as 3/1 with Ladbrokes. Robbie Power rides the bay gelding once again for the Jessica Harrington team, who are yet to win the race in its history. Bostons Angel won three Grade Ones last season as a novice, but has failed to win this year. He travelled well in the JNwine.com Champion Chase but made a costly mistake, and then he put in a fair effort in the Future Stars Chase at Sandown where Golan Way got the run of the race up front. A return to Leopardstown should suit his attritional style of running, and it is worth remembering that Bostons won the PJ Moriarty on this card last year. He has been declared to run in cheek-pieces.

Third in the betting is China Rock, a 5/1 chance with Sky Bet and Paddy Power. He is trained by Mouse Morris and was running a massive race alongside the likes of Long Run and Kauto Star in last year’s Gold Cup before he had to be pulled up. Despite having ‘PU’ put down next to his name, that was a career best from China Rock, but it is a concern that he never won at Leopardstown before.

Magnanimity could be the forgotten horse at 7/1 with Boylesports, trained by the great Dessie Hughes. He finished only a length behind Bostons Angel in the RSA Chase and he should improve from his seasonal comeback in the Lexus Chase over the Christmas period.

Punters looking for bigger prices have been latching onto Follow The Plan, who is now into 20/1 with Coral having been available at 40/1 with the same firm when betting opened up at the start of the week. He finished a good second to Apt Approach last time out and is a reliable sort, so he could easily pick up the pieces if the market leaders fail to fire.

Roberto Goldback is at 20/1 with Sporting Bet and has a decent record at the course (2-5), whilst the rank outsider is Treacle at 40/1.

The Irish Hennessy is at 3.45pm local time on Sunday 12 February and is live on both RTE1 and At The Races. There are two places for each-way bets.  

2012 Irish Hennessy Odds