Friday, November 30, 2007

Hennessy Gold Cup

Eighteen go to post tomorrow at Newbury in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup which is due off at 2.40. Of the four market leaders priced in single figures I like Snowy Morning best. Paul Nicholls has been very candid in the build-up and practically told us not to back Denman; the horse will be carrying top weight and will come on for the run, the Lexus Chase in Ireland being the target. At the weights Snowy Morning should have the beating of Denman on their running in the Royal & Sun Alliance Chase at Cheltenham last March. Abragante looks well handicapped but in my book is one to be wary about, Richard Hoiles from Channel Four having labelled him 'chicken hearted' before the recent running of the Badger Ales Chase at Wincanton, while I'm not convinced New Alco will stay the trip. A bigger priced pick is John Quinn's Character Building; the horse will definitely stay and handles soft ground - he looks a value each way bet at around 12/1.

1 comment:

GeeDee said...

Last season Kauto Star's Betfair Chase win at Haydock set him out as something extraordinary; Denman's imperious victory carrying top weight in today's Hennessy also marks him out as something special.
Snowy Morning was backed in to 9/2 favouritism but he appeared keen, never really settling for McCoy, and fell at the seventh.
Character Building was available at 12/1 and 14/1 in the morning; at the off the price had contracted to 8/1. He stayed on from three out to finish third, some nineteen lengths behind the winner.
In the post race interviews Nicholls said Denman would improve for the run. Have we seen the Gold Cup winner here? He is now a best priced 5/2 to win chasing's Blue Riband come next March.