Tag: hennessy gold cup

Racing Preview November 29th

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Our ante-post advice for the Hennessy Gold Cup was to go each-way on Smad Place and Many Clouds. I’m pleased to say that both horses are set to go in Saturday’s feature race at Newbury in a typically competitive renewal.

Denis O’Regan takes over in the saddle on Smad Place with both of Alan King’s regular riders side-lined through injury. The grey should run well and I haven’t lost any confidence in Many Clouds, despite his slight drift out to 9-1 in the betting. I am not a particular fan of Djakadam or Fingal Bay in the race with their limited jumping experience so I’m hopeful that we will get at least one of our runners in the frame.

Nicky Henderson has not had the best of weeks having had to admit defeat in his efforts to have Sprinter Sacre and Simonsig ready for their respective December targets. He has also admitted that he has been caught out by the soft ground with many of his top-of-the-ground horses in action at present. I am surprised that he has declared Triolo D’Alene for the Hennessy having frequently warned that the horse needs good ground. I tipped him last year at 14-1 but I’d be very surprised if he were to follow up this season.

Henderson could still have something to smile about on Saturday as Hammersly Lake can go one better than at the Cheltenham Open meeting. He was only beaten in a photograph by Roman Flight having travelled well throughout and he should go close off a 4lbs higher mark. David Pipe’s Home Run could be the danger as he was full of running when tripping up at Market Rasen last time out.

The Long Distance Hurdle should be a cakewalk for More Of That but I shall be watching the run of Shotgun Paddy with interest. He looks tailor-made for the Welsh National and this will tell us how fit he is for the Chepstow marathon next month.

Venetia Williams has her string in terrific form at present and is averaging a winner a day. The Clock Leary made a very impressive fencing debut at Ascot and runs in the 12.50 at Newbury on Saturday. The handicapper has lumped 12lbs extra on him for that win but a follow up looks extremely likely. Tara Road could be the main danger after winning on the bridle at Ffos Las. The handicapper didn’t miss him either and he is up 13lbs.

Over at Newcastle, I hope to see Irving get his Champion Hurdle campaign back on track after falling at Wincanton. It isn’t the greatest Fighting Fifth Hurdle ever run and he’ll need to win this if he has any chance at the festival in March.

Newbury

12.50 The Clock Leary @7-2 Bet365

1.50 Hammersly Lake @4-1 William Hill

3.00 Smad Place @10-1*

Many Clouds @9-1 Betfair

*Ante-post

Newcastle

2.05 Irving @Evens Betbright, Stan James

Hennessy Gold Cup Preview

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The Hennessy Gold Cup is fast approaching and has attracted several potential Gold Cup horses.

Last year we were celebrating a 14-1 ante-post winning tip with Nicky Henderson’s Triolo D’Alene. His season fell apart a little after that and it will be interesting to see if he makes his seasonal debut here. Henderson is more likely to rely on Hadrian’s Approach who departed early on last year but ended the season winning the Bet365 Gold Cup (formerly the Whitbread) at Sandown.

I had previously thought that his jumping didn’t stand up in big fields but there was nothing wrong with it at the Esher track. On the downside, he is up 7lbs and arrives here without the benefit of a previous run. Philip Hobbs had an unbelievable three days at Cheltenham’s Open meeting and pins his hopes on Fingal Bay.

I’ve always got the greatest respect for horses that can carry big weights in the festival handicaps but he has only ever raced twice over fences. He was a fair second on his debut before running out after continuously jumping to his left at Exeter. He reverted successfully to hurdles last season but this an enormous task for an inexperienced chaser. The same applies to Irish hope Djakadam who fell at the festival on his third start over fences and has not been seen since. Time may show that he is well handicapped here but he hasn’t done enough over fences to justify his current price in a race like this.

Ireland has a poor record in this race but Gordon Elliott’s Don Cossack would be an interesting contender after wins at Punchestown and Down Royal. He only had two to beat in the Grade 2 Powers Irish Whiskey Chase last time but did it well.

Paul Nicholls has won this twice as a jockey and three times as a trainer. He could saddle Rocky Creek and last week’s Cheltenham winner Sam Winner. Rocky Creek finished second last year and is up 5lbs but ran a cracker when runner-up to Road To Riches at Down Royal last time. Nicholls is aiming him at the Grand National in which he finished fifth last year.

Although plenty of horses have won this without a prep race, I usually like confirmation that the horse is fit and well and Many Clouds fits the bill. Oliver Sherwood was bitterly disappointed when he was brought down in the RSA Chase and it would have been interesting to see whether he could have beaten O’Faolains Boy. He reappeared at Carlisle and won impressively with the handicapper raising him 7lbs as a result.

The RSA Chase has been a great guide to the Hennessy Gold Cup in recent seasons and runner-up Smad Place has to be worthy of consideration. Alan King has already declared his intention to go here without a prep race and it would be difficult to ignore his chances if you fancy Many Clouds. He has only had four races over fences but has winning form at Newbury. With doubts about Djakadam and Fingal Bay, I’m going each-way on Many Clouds and Smad Place.

Many Clouds @17-2 Betway

Smad Place @10-1 Ladbrokes, Bet365

Each-way ¼ odds, 1,2,3,4

Argento Chase Preview

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It was heavy going at Ascot and Haydock last weekend, in more ways than one! Our selections got bogged down in the mud with the exception of Sire De Grugy who advertised his chance in the Queen Mother Champion Chase with a classy victory.

I hope that some of you managed to get the 25-1 ante-post price on him for the festival! He is now a miserly 11-4 and I wouldn’t be backing him at those odds. I still have reservations about his jumping at Cheltenham and Sprinter Sacre could yet return to the peak of his powers. I’d be optimistic of some place money even if the favourite does still make it to the race.

I’m after some more ante-post value this week with Rocky Creek and Triolo D’Alene in the Gold Cup. Both horses are due to run in the Argento Chase at Cheltenham on Saturday. Paddy Power have already gone non-runner/no bet on the four championship races at the festival and you have to applaud them for it. Naturally, some of their prices are a bit skinny by comparison to the other firms but 33-1 with a run Rocky Creek for the big race will do me.

He has a lot of improvement to find if he is to be competitive with the likes of Bobs Worth and Silviniaco Conti but Paul Nicholls is no mug and was happy to fork out the entry fee. He gave the horse plenty of work ahead of the Hennessy Gold Cup and gave the impression that he was expecting a victory. In the event he had to settle for the runner-up spot behind Triolo D’Alene but time may show that to be a fair effort.

Having tipped Triolo D’Alene at 25-1 for the Hennessy, I’m reluctant to pass him over here but I just wonder about him if the ground gets really soft. Henderson was quick to pull him out of the Ascot race won by Houblon Des Obeaux and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him diverted again here. BetVictor are also offering a refund on non-runners for Cheltenham and go 40-1 about Triolo D’Alene for Cheltenham.

I was hopeful that Theatre Guide would boost the Hennessy form when he ran at Cheltenham last time but he found Monbeg Dude in excellent form. I must admit that I had the Dude down as something of a mud lark but he looked a different horse that day and readily accounted for Theatre Guide.

Rocky Creek at 5-2 Paddy Power

Ante-post Cheltenham Gold Cup* Non-runner no bet

Rocky Creek at 33-1 (each-way) Paddy Power

Triolo D’Alene at 40-1 (each-way) BetVictor

Welsh National Ante-Post Preview

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The Hennessy Gold Cup provided us with a 25-1 winner in Triolo D’Alene on Saturday and I believe that it may also have given us a clue to the outcome of the Welsh National.

Trying to second guess the running plans of the leading National Hunt stables is a gamble in itself but we got it right with Nicky Henderson’s runner. Apparently jockey Barry Geraghty had been pleading with the Lambourn trainer to keep Triolo D’Alene for the Grand National but he’s likely to be faced with a steep rise in the weights now. Geraghty tried to convince a group of journalists that a 3-4lb rise would be sufficient for Saturday’s victory but the general consensus is that he will go up by 10lbs.

There is one potential loophole for Henderson and that is the possibility of running Long Run. As a former Gold Cup winner he would automatically get top weight and Triolo D’Alene might get in off around 11 stone. As a previous winner of the Becher Chase, he has got a proper Aintree pedigree so I’m going to invest a little of Saturday’s winnings at 20-1 for Aintree.

Moving on to the prospect of a slog around Chepstow over Christmas and my eye-catcher from Newbury was Merry King. Jonjo O’Neill is a great supporter of the Welsh National and won it with Mini Sensation and Synchronised. In Merry King I believe that he as another ideal candidate.

I first noted him last season when he produced a gutsy display to finish second in the Tommy Whittle Chase at Haydock. He refused to give in and just kept battling away right to the line, losing out on the nod to Cannington Brook. On his seasonal debut he ran on from midfield to finish second to Houblon Des Obeaux with Triolo D’Alene behind in third.

I always wondered if he would quite have the pace for the Hennessy and he was outpaced when they turned for home, plugging on at the one pace to finish fifth. The only horse that put up a more promising run with regards to the Welsh National was Rocky Creek but connections have stated their intention to run him in the Lexus Chase instead.

Another stable with multiple options is the in-form yard of Lucinda Russell. She has Silver By Nature and Nuts N Bolts entered and both ran well at Haydock recently. It appears that she is leaning towards running the former in Ireland but Nuts N Bolts would also be a leading contender here. Sydney Paget is the early favourite after winning easily at Haydock but he has gone up in the weights and is another with alternative engagements.

Grand National – Triolo D’Alene 20-1 Bet365, Coral

Welsh National – Merry King 14-1 Bet365, Coral

Newbury Friday Preview

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The Hennessy Gold Cup meeting started with a low key meeting on Thursday but Friday’s card is an improvement. Wonderful Charm goes for a quick hat-trick when he lines up for the Grade 2 Novices’ Chase at 2.05.

The Paul Nicholls-trained French import won impressively at Fakenham first time out and then followed up in a much better race at Wincanton. He pulled back three lengths from the last to deny Fox Appeal with Third Intention ten lengths away in third. He ran too freely in the early stages and is still learning his trade but he has plenty of potential.

His main rival tomorrow is David Pipe’s Tanerko Emery who was second to Raya Star over fences before running a respectable seventh behind Dell’ Arca at Cheltenham. That form received an early boost when Ifandbutwhynot (tenth) came out and won the Gerry Feilden Hurdle today.

The Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle Qualifier at 1.30 has attracted a huge field. The one that catches my eye is the consistent Twelve Roses. It’s a sobering thought that I can remember this one’s grand-dam winning at Cheltenham! That was Rose Ravine who beat stable companion Crimson Embers in controversial circumstances for Fulke Walwyn.

Twelve Roses seems to have inherited her battling qualities if her recent effort is anything to go by. Kim Bailey’s mare forced More Of That to pull out all the stops at Wetherby before going down by just a length. The winner came out and won a much better race at Haydock last weekend and looks like being yet another high-class performer in the JP McManus colours.

Of course there are plenty of dangers including the hat-trick seeking Minella For Steak and David Pipe’s Western Warhorse. Chiberta King is another interesting runner having won at Royal Ascot in the summer. If he can transfer that kind of form to hurdles he is well weighted here.

Looking further ahead, my two selections for the Hennessy have stood their ground with Barry Geraghty electing to ride Triolo D’Alene. This has caused Hadrian’s Approach to drift and his jumping admittedly causes concern in such a big field. There is still no clear favourite and it looks like the most open renewal of the race in recent years.

Wonderful Charm Evens 888Sport

Twelve Roses 6-1 Bet365

Hennessy Gold Cup 2013 Preview

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Last weekend’s Betfair Chase did not quite go to plan with Cue Card holding off Dynaste and Silviniaco Conti. All credit to anyone who kept faith in Cue Card but I just could not see him keeping up the gallop over the three mile and one furlong trip. His only previous effort had ended with a leg-weary fifth in the King George but the going was very testing that day.

It could be argued that he had improved for his seasonal debut when a disappointing third behind Somersby at Exeter. I noted Kumbeshwar running on to finish under a length down on Cue Card that day but he ran like a hairy goat in the Paddy Power Gold Cup! I can only assume that Cue Card improved a stone between Exeter and Haydock.

As far as the Cheltenham Gold Cup goes, I’d still back the second and third to beat Cue Card. Both will be entitled to improve a few pounds and won’t be unduly concerned if the going turns soft. In the more immediate future, the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury on Saturday has attracted 23 runners at the five-day stage.

The weights are set to rise by about a stone following the withdrawal of Tidal Bay. The Hennessy has become something of a Gold Cup trial in recent seasons but it is hard to imagine there being too many clues this year. The top weight Cape Tribulation is rated 22lbs inferior to Gold Cup winner Bobs Worth so it is going to take a spectacular performance to earn a quote for the festival’s biggest prize.

There are some promising second season chasers here, notably Invictus who is bidding to overcome an absence of almost 20 months. I’m surprised to see him at the head of the market, even if he did count Bobs Worth among his victims in the Reynoldstown Chase at Ascot. It will be hats off to Alan King if he can get him fit enough to win this first time out.

Rocky Creek has also been well supported but I’ve been slightly disappointed with some of the Nicholls horses this season. He has acknowledged that they are needing a run to put them straight and Rocky Creek has always been workmanlike rather than spectacular. I much prefer the claims of Hadrian’s Approach who almost upset Unioniste here last season.

He recovered from a bad mistake to finish with a flourish that day, suggesting that a big prize would come his way before too long. He has continued to throw in the odd costly mistake and did so again at Kempton on his return. The bare form of that run is nothing to get excited about but it should have put him spot on. I remember a horse called Arctic Call winning this and he was prone to the odd blunder. More often than not, you can get away with them at Newbury and he looks a decent bet at 11-1.

After David Pipe’s recent successes, I’m respectful of the grey Our Father who seems to run his best races when fresh. It may be a shrewd move by Pipe to go straight for a big prize with this one. Jonjo O’Neill is never one to disclose his plans but it seems that Merry King has been aimed at this race. He ran well at Ascot when second to Houblon Des Obeaux and has a big pull in the weights. So too does the third horse Triolo D’Alene, the second string of Nicky Henderson. He looks far too big at 25-1 2ith Betfair.

Hadrian’s Approach 11-1 888Sport

Triolo D’Alene 25-1 Betfair