RACING POST SUNDAY FEBRUARY 12th 2012. LEAPORDSTOWN HENNESSY GOLD CUP DAY

RACING POST SUNDAY FEBRUARY 12th 2012

RACING POST WEEK MONDAY FEBRUARY 6th TO SUNDAY FEBRUARY 12th 2012

http://www.turfcall.co.uk

BITTAR GIVES SUPPORT AS MPs DEBATE OFFSHORE BETTING TAX

http://turfcall2.blogspot.com/2012/02/paul-bittar-new-chief-executive-of.html.

RPSUNDAY SIT BACK  AND ENJOY THE READ PAGES 17-23

TODAY'S CARDS Leopardstown. Exeter. Southwell.

http://www.racingpost.com/horses2/cards/home.sd

IRISH HENNESSY GOLD CUP RUNNERS AND RIDERS  Shttp://www.racingpost.com/horses2/cards/card.sd?race_id=545819&r_date=2012-02-12#raceTabs=sc_

IRELAND'S CHAMPION TRAINER WITH HIS EXCLUSIVE WEEKLY COLUMN.

"HERE'S HOPING QUEL ESPRIT SHOWS WHAT HE'S MADE OF."

WILLIE MULLINS on the chances of today's runners - including big-race

 favourite QUEL ESPRIT

"With four Grade 1 races on the card, today's meeting at Leopardstown is unique in holding centre stage and three other top-level prizes on offer.

"While the feature is nicely placed in the lead up to Cheltenham next month it is much more than just a festival trials day. With the prize-money on offer the races are well worth aiming for in their own right. We have runners in all the main races and, hopefully, have them nicely wound up for the tasks in hand.

"The Hennessy Gold Cup has been a lucky race for us over the years and this afternoon the stable's hopes lie with QUEL ESPRIT. With the way some of the high-profile candidates for the race defected for one reason or another during the week my fingers are firmly crossed that our horse gets there without any problems."

LEOPARDSTOWN TURF  -  FEATURE RACE

3.45. Hennessy Gold Cup (Grade 1) for 5yo+ over 3m winner e92,000

WIN: QUEL ESPRIT (FR) 8 11-10 partner RUBY WALSH handler presenter DAVE PORTER trainer Willie Mullins breeder Haras de Saint-Voir for Red Barn Syndicate 5-4f  from ROBERTO GOLDBACK 14-1 distance 2 lengths. With TREACLE finishing 3rd at 33-1.(7 lengths + off the winner )

Hennessy master Mullins strikes with Quel Esprit

By Tom Kerr 3:48PM 12 FEB 2012

Report: Leopardstown, Sunday

Hennessy Gold Cup (Grade 1) 5yo+, 3m

QUEL ESPRIT gave trainer Willie Mullins an eighth Hennessy Gold Cup success with a swashbuckling front-running performance under Ruby Walsh.

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/leopardstown-w-p-mullins-r-walsh-hennessy-master-mullins-strikes-with-quel-esprit/986979/top/ 

 Mullins said "We always regarded Quel Esprit as a fabulous jumper and were surprised when he fell a few times last season. Ruby gave him a very brave ride and got some tremendous jumps when he needed them. Ruby wasn't afraid to ask him and jumping won the race for him."

QUEL ESPRIT and TREACLE were cut for the National,  both generally

 now around the  25-1.