HUSSARD Collonges is set to miss the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Sunday and is to be aimed directly at another gold - the Tote Gold Cup, at Cheltenham next month.

Brandsby trainer Peter Beaumont, with his eyes fixed on one main objective, has elected to steer his stablestar away from Sunday's confrontation after reasoning that a hard race in Ireland may have been counter-productive in his all-consuming Cheltenham challenge.

Beaumont, who won the Irish Hennessy three years in succession with Jodami, said: "I love going to Ireland and one day we'll go there with Hussard Collonges - but not on Sunday. The horse is in good order, but he's had three tough races already and I don't want him to have another before Cheltenham."

Hussard Collonges, who is third-favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, won by Jodami in 1993, has yet to get his head in front this season, but has produced three first-rate efforts in defeat.

Runner-up to Marlborough in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on his reappearance, the Ryedale gelding then finished a cracking fifth in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury - conceding lumps of weight to the four horses who finished ahead of him. On his latest start, in the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock, he produced another gallant weight-carrying performance, chasing home Truckers Tavern to whom he was conceding 15lb.

Beaumont, who produced Hussard Collonges in tip-top form for last year's Cheltenham Festival, when he won the Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Chase, is aiming to have him spot-on again on March 13.

His decision to miss Sunday's valuable prize is a brave, but understandable, one. Hopefully, he will be rewarded, along with owner Nick Bannister, and jockey Russ Garritty, in six weeks time.

Time is sadly running out for Barton to establish himself as a genuine Gold Cup contender at Cheltenham next month. The former star Ryedale performer, unfortunately laid low with a foot injury in the autumn, failed to shine in his two comeback outings.

Beaten a long way in the Peter Marsh Chase on his reappearance at Haydock last month, Barton again disappointed at Wetherby last Saturday. Sent off at 4-1 as he attempted to defy top weight in the Tote Exacta Handicap Chase, the 10-year-old was never travelling or jumping with his customary fluency and, after blundering badly at the final open ditch, four fences from home, he trailed in in a remote third place, beaten a yawning 37 lengths by the winner, Il'Athou.

This second below-par peformance from Barton, a prolific winner over hurdles and fences, left trainer Tim Easterby disappointed and mystified. "I don't know the reason for it. He didn't jump very well and was never really going at all," said the Great Habton handler.

Latalomne remains on course for the Cheltenham Festival, despite missing an intended engagement on the flat at Southwell this week.

"He gave himself a bit of a knock and has an infection on the inside of his joint, which will take a week or so to clear up," explained trainer Brian Ellison.

The Queen Mother Champion Chase, in which Latalomne fell two out when in the lead last year, is again the objective for the Norton gelding. "We will probably take him to Southwell for a racecourse gallop a week or a fortnight before the festival, which is what we did with him last season," added Ellison.

Updated: 10:42 Wednesday, February 05, 2003