Nolan's hoping Joncol can show he's a real contender

Ireland's Cheltenham Gold Cup challengers are thin on the ground this year, yet Paul Nolan is hoping that Joncol will emerge as a force if he runs well in the Irish Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Joncol won the three-mile Grade One race last year and finished a creditable third in the Lexus Chase at the same track over Christmas.

And trainer Nolan believes the imposing eight-year-old is in peak condition after getting over a series of niggling problems.

"He's gone well since the Lexus," said Nolan. "We're hoping for a bit of luck and he's looking in great shape.

"I was actually very happy with his run in the Lexus [where he finished just under seven lengths behind Pandorama] as previously he wasn't good and had been recovering from an infection in one of his hind legs, which had gone on for about three or four months.

"It was hard to cure and every couple of weeks it flared up.

"This time I'm hoping for a clear run and although I'm not making any excuses, I'm not sure how much that was affecting him."

Nolan added: "He's going to have to improve about 20lbs to become a Gold Cup contender but I'm hoping that he's improved between eight to 10 lengths from the Lexus."

Joncol's main challengers in the weekend's feature are expected to include the Paul Nicholls-trained Pride Of Dulcote and Willie Mullins's Cooldine, who was pulled up in the Lexus when joint favourite.

Irish Hennessy Gold Cup (Paddy Power): 7-4 Pride Of Dulcote, 11-4 Joncol, 6 Cooldine, 8 Money Trix, 12 bar.