Shropshire’s Cheltenham Gold Cup hope Neptune Collonges will begin the road to the 2009 Festival this Christmas.

Last year’s Gold Cup third, owned by Cosford businessman John Hales, travels over to Ireland tomorrow before lining up in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on Sunday.

It will be Neptune Collonges’ first run since winning the Punchestown Gold Cup in April.

“We are all really looking forward to it and we are confident Neptune will run a big race,” said Lisa Hales, daughter of John.

“Paul (Nicholls, trainer) has said he is in really good order at home.

“There are some good horses in the race. Exotic Dancer is there and you never know what he is going to come up with. He can run some really big races and some poor ones. And there’s also The Listener.

“But hopefully all will go well and then we are probably looking at one more run before Cheltenham.”

War Of Attrition, 2006 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, will also be amongst the Lexus field after bypassing the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

The Irish star has enjoyed a successful return following a two-year absence, scoring on his first two starts before running a creditable third to the Hales-owned Noland in the John Durkan at Punchestown.

“We’ve decided we’re going to stay at home,” said County Tipperary handler Mouse Morris.

“The ground is just soft at the moment (at Leopardstown) rather than heavy so we are sticking with plan A.”

By James Garrison