Bostons Angel to try headgear in Hennessy

RSA CHASE hero Bostons Angel will be tried in headgear for the first time over fences in Sunday's Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown.

Bostons Angel has had a torrid start to his first senior season, unseating in the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal and disappointing connections with third place in Sandown's Sportingbet.com Future Stars Chase.

He was on Tuesday among the ten left in the Grade 1 and trainer Jessica Harrington revealed he would on Sunday be sporting headgear, as he did twice in his hurdling career.

She said: "He worked last week and I was happy with him and the plan is to run at the weekend. He just wasn't right [before Christmas], so we had to skip the Lexus Chase, but he is fine again now and we'll try him with cheek pieces or blinkers on Sunday."

Bostons Angel is a general 7-1 shot behind market leader Quel Esprit, who is now champion trainer Willie Mullins' sole representative.

The Gigginstown House Stud-owned Quito De La Roque, winner of the JNwine.com Champion Chase, is the general 3-1 second-favourite and was reported in good order by trainer Colm Murphy on Tuesday.

He said: "I don't know what happened to him the last day [when third in the Lexus Chase] - maybe he had a harder race than we thought when he won the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal." 

The potential line-up is completed by Lexus Chase winner Synchronised, RSA Chase fourth Magnanimity, Guinness Gold Cup winner Follow The Plan, Grade 2 winners China Rock and Roberto Goldback and Paddy Power Chase runner-up Treacle.