Quito De La Roque out of Hennessy with bad scope

LEADING fancy Quito De La Roque has been ruled out of Sunday's Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown following a bad scope, trainer Colm Murphy has reported.

After the withdrawal of Jessies Dream earlier in the day, Quito De La Roque had hardened as the general 5-2 second-favourite for the Grade 1 contest behind 2-1 market-leader Quel Esprit.

However, the Gigginstown House Stud-owned eight-year-old joins Jessies Dream on the sidelines after the results of an earlier endoscopic examination were revealed.

Murphy said: "He scoped badly on Wednesday and won't be running on Sunday."

Coral reacted to the news by cutting Quel Esprit to 5-4 favourite and promoting Synchronised, who is still to be confirmed a runner, to second favouritism at 9-4.

Quito De La Roque is as short as 16-1 with bet365 for the Betfred Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival.