Cooldine will be in action at Leopardstown on Sunday.(credit:
Paolo Camera)
Trainer Willie Mullins has admitted he fears that Cooldine could suffer from a lack of "match fitness" ahead of the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Sunday.
The 2009 RSA Chase winner looked set to be a Gold Cup candidate this season but flopped on his reappearance when pulled up on his comeback in the Lexus Chase over Christmas.
Mullins doesn’t expect to see a performance like that on Sunday, but would have liked to have seen his star contest a few more races before the Leopardstown showpiece.
"He's done his work nicely and we think he's in good form, so we're looking forward to Sunday," Mullins explained.
"I think the track will suit him and the ground will suit him, it's just the lack of recent racing that is a big negative.
"Going through his profile for the last couple of years, he improved with every race and I would have loved to have had two good races into him.
"You can do a lot of work at home but there is nothing like the races and it's like with footballers - match fitness is what counts."
Follow this link to Ladbrokes for information on how to get a free bet on the Irish Hennessy.
Irish Hennessy -Ladbrokes
3m, Leopardstown, 7th February 2010
7/4 Cooldine, 2/1 Joncol, 7/2 Money Trix, 11/2 Notre Pere, 16 Schindlers Hunt, 16 In Compliance, 20 Made In Taipan, (1/5 odds 1,2,3)