Trainer Denis Hogan hopes are high for Cheltenham contenders Bua Boy and Funky Dady

Hogan has sent out half a dozen runners at Prestbury Park since taking out his trainer's licence, without success, but feels in Bua Boy and Funky Dady he has realistic hopes of registering a significant win at the November meeting this weekend.

Six-year-old Funky Dady, winner of two of his eight chase starts to date and last seen finishing fourth behind the Willie Mullins-trained Ontheropes in the Munster National at Limerick last month, will line up in the valuable Paddy Power Gold Cup on Saturday, and he is joined by Bua Boy who takes his chance in Sunday's Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle.

Funky Dady has been kept busy since winning a handicap at Tipperary during July and Hogan feels consistency has been the horse's strong suit throughout his career.

He said: "Funky Dady runs in the big one and he's been a grand servant to us, he hasn't run a bad race all season. I suppose he needs to jump a little smarter when it comes to this race, there won't be much room for error, but we always felt two miles, four furlongs would be his best trip.

"We would like slower ground, in truth, I hope they put on plenty of water and this time of year when they're not much drying time and days are shorter, it's easier to water properly.

"But he's fighting-fit, has a lovely low weight and young Shane (Mulcahy) gets a lovely tune out of him. The main thing is that he's able to get into a rhythm in the early part of the race, as I've no doubt that he'll come home well.

"He'll like them going fast as he sits in behind anyway but once he's had a smooth run for the first circuit or so we'll be a bit more hopeful."

As for heading to the big meeting with genuine chances of success, the trainer said: "We've had a horse placed at Cheltenham before but overall the place hasn't been all that good to us. To be fair we've had a few there just to have runners rather than be competitive, but we're actually going there this weekend with two horses who deserve to be taking their chance."

Funky Dady is a 40/1 chance with the sponsors for the Paddy Power Gold Cup, while Bua Boy - who will be ridden by Hogan himself - is 20s generally for the Greatwood.

The latter also bumped into a Mullins-trained horse last time out, having finished runner-up behind Dysart Diamond at Listowel when last seen on September 24, following an even closer second at the Galway Festival at the end of July.

"He was a bit unlucky at Galway as he was just nabbed on the line there, with the front two pulling a long way clear," said Hogan.

"He's a horse who we always thought would want a bit further but he seems to be doing well at two miles so we're going to keep him at it for now.

"He has to step up and come forward again but the form of his Listowel race last time is very strong. Gordon's horse (Eskylane, fourth) won the big handicap easily at Down Royal and the seventh horse (Magic Tricks) was second to Eskylane too, so it's rock-solid.

"It's great to have him going there for his owners and for us, but touch wood he's had a very good preparation and we're very hopeful after his last two runs. I’ll ride him myself and I’m really looking forward to it. I haven’t ridden a winner in Cheltenham and I’m banking on this lad as time is running out!"

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