Neptune Collonges in flagship National Hunt hope
Shropshire's leading racehorse Neptune Collonges could be set to renew old rivalries with Kauto Star and Denman in one of the flagship races of the National Hunt season.
Shropshire's leading racehorse Neptune Collonges could be set to renew old rivalries with Kauto Star and Denman in one of the flagship races of the National Hunt season.
The three big guns, all from the stable of champion trainer Paul Nicholls, are amongst the 66 preliminary entries for the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury on November 27.
Should Neptune Collonges, owned by Shropshire businessman John Hales, line-up it would be his first outing for 20 months after suffering a tendon injury when finishing fourth in the 2009 Cheltenham Gold Cup.
"Paul is really pleased with Neptune and there is a possibility of him going for the Hennessy," said Lisa Hales, John's daughter.
"A lot will depend on the conditions nearer the time - it's probably about a 50-50 chance he will run.
"The long-term plan will be to go to the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Punchestown Gold Cup."
Neptune Collonges had two epic Cheltenham Gold Cup battles with stablemates Kauto Star and Denman in 2008 and 2009, in which he finished third and fourth respectively, while he is a twice winner of the Punchestown Gold Cup.
By JAMES GARRISON