Hennessy Gold Cup 2011

3.10 Newbury

Hennessy Gold Cup Chase (Handicap) (Grade 3) (Class 1)  (4YO plus)

Winner £85,425

Advice: 1 pt each/way Great Endeavour (6/1 Bet365, Paddy Power*), Wymott (10/1 Paddy Power)

Neptune Collonges: One of the top jumpers of recent years, often overshadowed by Denman and Kauto Star; Showed he still has it when winning Argento Chase last season before respectable efforts in Gold Cup (not good enough) and Scottish National (too much weight) but should still give Harry Derham a good spin even if not good enough.

Planet Of Sound: Arrived as a top class staying chaser when winning Punchestown Gold Cup; Good reappearance when third in Betfair Chase before being held up by breathing problem; Very interesting on best form and one to watch.

Sarando: Made a poor start over fences when sixth at Plumpton but found his preferred style of running when a wide margin winner of 4 runner novice chase and even better when close second to now Gold Cup contender Quito De La Roque; Reappearance win deeply impressive and shouldn’t go without consideration for all that this is far tougher.

Aiteenthirtythree: Unbeaten in two starts over fences at Newbury, trashing decent opponents by 17 and 50 lengths respectively in a promising start to life over fences; RSA Chase (pulled up) came too soon for him and warmed up with an adequate second to Somserby over trip half a mile too short at Kempton; Feeling that he’s got potential to outstrip his mark by far and clearly had only this race in mind for a long time, but worry about how he’ll cope with big and high quality field.

Blazing Bailey: Looked as if he was starting to get back to his best when pulling off a handicap chase double at Cheltenham and Ffos Las but failed to go on from that and far more progressive/classier sorts in this field.

Great Endeavour: Picked up where he left off from 2 seasons ago (when he won the Bryne Group Plate at the Cheltenham Festival) after a below par season when bolting up in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, having enjoyed a perfect trip; Some have raised questions about him in this test but looked as if he’d stay three miles when unlucky faller (given poor, overly aggressive ride) in 3 mile handicap chase at last season’s Festival, and 10lbs rise for his win last time (must be remembered that this could be last chance to get a good mark) is more than fair; Track like Newbury should see him stay three miles and of obvious interest.

Beshabar: Continued the progression he’d made over hurdles with a strong chase campaign last season, following his second in the National Hunt Chase to then winning Scottish National; This test should suit and of major interest here.

Wayward Prince: As solid a chasing campaign as you’d hope for last season, when winning three chases in impressive fashion before flying home late in the RSA Chas; Over the top at Aintree but still got plenty of mileage in his mark and one of the better contenders here.

Carruthers: Impressed with his easy front running victories as a novice, running creditably in RSA Chase when bad mistake put paid to his chances 3 out; Not reached that form since but respectable runs since and nearly 10lbs lower than when sixth in this last year; Possible with a run behind him.

Muirhead: Top class hurdler in his time but looked to have lots to offer over fences when cantering all over rivals to win the Munster National; Disappointing when just eighth in United House Gold Cup and after that, passed over in better race.

Michel Le Bon: Created a good impression when winning two of his three novice hurdles (one by 21 lenghths) as a prelude to chasing, which started in exceptional style when cantering around Newbury unopposed; Leg trouble kept him out since then but kept in the highest regard by his trainer and not impossible that he can take a big hand after long absence; Interesting although there are still question marks over him.

 The Giant Bolster: Takes liberties at his fences sometimes but plenty of class to go with that, as he showed when winning on trials day; Shaped well over hurdles at Chepstow when fourth in Silver Trophy and should go well off the back of that, although jumping mistakes are a worry (saw him unseat at the first in Paddy Power Gold Cup).

Wymott: Grade 2 winner over hurdles last season (with a Grade 1 winner behind in Wayward Prince) who has made perfect start to fencing this year, beating useful field with ease at Bangor and then winning strong events at Exeter (next 4 home have since won) and Bangor; Pulled up in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham but injured himself there; 4lbs reprieve from handicap potentially lenient and of major interest.

Fair Along: Much loved stalwart who was second best in bid for hat trick of John Smith’s Hurdles at Wetherby and seemed to be exposed when sixth in similar event at Cheltenham last time out; Others preferred and may have to work too hard for the lead.

Balthazar King: Looked to have plenty to offer when winning handicap Chase at Cheltenham in October but disappointed twice since when fifth at Ascot and pulled up in long distance event at Cheltenham; Exposed.

Tullamore Dew: Ran a screamer to take third under topweight in the Centenary Chase (behind Divers and Quantativeeasing) at the Festival and solid run at Chepstow on reappearance over hurdles; Up 5lbs on chase mark for that and interesting upped to three miles.

Bille Magern: As game as they come, competing a 4 timer in weak novice events last year but holding his head high when pitched into better company; Won well last month at Cheltenham but held in Paddy Power and this similarly tough.

Qhilimar: Useful staying handicap chaser of late, winning twice in his last four starts and running a solid race in defeat at Carlile last time; Good but probably not good enough for such exalted company.

VERDICT: A race which betting wise revolves around two unexposed Paul Nicholls chasers in Aiteenthritythree and Michael Le Bon. Aiteenthirtythree’s sure to be popular having had only this race in mind for a year and then a nice prep run around Kempton, but there’s still a worry about his form of his two wins and how well he’ll cope with being taken on for the lead, the same circumstances which saw his poor run in the RSA Chase at the Festival. He could still be well ahead of his mark but he’ll need to be and it remains to be seen how he copes with this test. Michel Le Bon is seen by some as good enough to go to the Gold Cup and it would be no surprise to see him run a massive race here on only his second chase start but the absence and lack of experience leaves two question marks as well, and he’s seen as more of a watching brief despite his obvious talent and reputation. The Paddy Power Gold Cup winner GREAT ENDAVOUR has stamina questions to answer for some but he wasn’t finished when falling in at the Cheltenham Festival (having been given a very poor ride) over 3 miles and this track, combined with waiting tactics, should see him go very nicely in a bid to evoke memories of Celestial Gold, who won both races – being the last horse to do attempt the double – in 2004. Of the large brigade of second season chasers, the one who makes most appeal is WYMOTT, clearly amiss at the Cheltenham Festival when last seen, an effort which has seen him get a lenient drop in the handicap. He’s very unexposed over fences as one would want for this race, and good ground would not be the end of the world for his challenge despite connections concerns. Beshabar and Wayward Prince, for obvious reasons, made the most appeal of the others and the best big price contender would appear to be Tullamore Dew. 




*Paddy Power and Bet365 are going 1/4 the odds 5 places, which is why the shorter price is advised on Great Endeavour