Ireland's favourite chaser Danoli pleased trainer Tom Foley in a work-out at the Curragh today and he will make his eagerly-awaited reappearance in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Sunday.
Tom Foley's 12-year-old has not run since October 1998, having suffered an off-hind suspensory tendon injury when working shortly after finishing third to Dorans Pride in the Kilkenny Irish Beer Champion Chase at Gowran Park.
Foley explained: "He was ridden by our work jockey Noel Hamilton and went nine furlongs on the Old Vic gallop up the middle of the Curragh with a stable companion.
"It is uphill all the way and stiff enough but I was quite happy with him and provided everything is all right between now and Sunday he will definitely run at Leopardstown _ he is doing everything we have asked of him."
But Foley has no doubts about the test Danoli faces in the Hennessy and he went on: "Tom Treacy will ride him, but he will need the run badly, that is the only thing that we lack. There is a 99 per cent chance that he will blow up, but we have another race for him, the Red Mills Chase at Gowran on February 19."
On his performance that day hinges a crack at the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup, and Foley added: "If everything went right there he would be nearly right for Cheltenham and we would then have three weeks to put the finishing touches so he would be coming right at the right time."
Danoli's comeback trail has been a great test of patience to owner and trainer, but Foley admitted: "With a horse like him it kind of encourages you to have patience!
"We schooled him one day in Gowran and he jumped a few fences for Tommy (Treacy). He was quite happy with him too and we are just hoping now that the ground is not tacky on Sunday, we want it wet and loose and we are hoping for the best."
