Dreaper hopes Pere can bounce back

Jim Dreaper is looking for Notre Pere to rediscover some of his old sparkle in the At The Races Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse on Saturday.

An impressive display in last season's Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup promised plenty, but he has failed to hit the target in four starts this season.

The nine-year-old was beaten just under 10 lengths into fourth in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown earlier in the month and Dreaper is hoping he can build on that performance this weekend.

"Everything has been fine with him since Leopardstown but we are still a bit puzzled as to why he isn't showing the same spark as last season," said Dreaper.

"We can't see anything wrong at home and we'll just have to see how he goes on the track again on Saturday.

"It is a bit of a drop in class for him and you would have to think even if he puts up the same performance as he did in the Hennessy, he'd have to be bang there.

"It's not going to be heavy at Fairyhouse but it should be just lovely National Hunt ground, so we'll see what happens."

Dreaper has not ruled out running his charge in next month's Cheltenham Gold Cup and could be tempted if conditions come up testing.

"We certainly haven't lost faith in him and if it was heavy ground, he could still run well in a Gold Cup," the trainer added.

"He might not be as fast as one or two of them but not many would stay better and if it did come up testing, he could run into a place."