The Hennessy Gold Cup 2013

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Another big race Saturday In The Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury.

This Is a Grade 3 National Hunt Chase over 3 miles and 2 and a half furlongs Incorporating 21 fences. It Is a handicap race where ratings and weight make a difference.

The Favourite Is the novice Invictus. He's lightly raced but has won 3 out of his 4 starts. It's worth noting that he beat Gold Cup Champion Bobs Worth and Silviniaco Conti In the Reynoldstown at Ascot.

Lord Windermere was pulled from the Nwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal, Ireland after the ground was deemed unsuitable. He needs firm ground and I have the nagging doubt that had Boston Bob not fallen at the last In this years RSA Chase, he would have been a gallant 2nd Instead of taking the title. However, I like this horse and with the right going, I feel that at 12/1 with Ladbrookes, he's worth the gamble of a small each way punt.

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Last years runner up Tidal Bay heads the weights after winning The bet365 Hurdle at Wetherby three weeks ago and will run under 11 stone 12lb. I myself think It's doubtful Nichol's will run him under this weight and I wouldn't be surprised If he withdraws him at the final declarations. The only horse to have ever won a Hennessy under top weight was Denman In 2009 but we are talking about an entirely different horse. They didn't dub Denman ' The Tank ' for nothing. I can't see Tidal Bay pulling this off under that weight If he goes to post.

Paul Nichol's also has Rolling Aces 10st 11lb, Unioniste 10st 7lb, Rocky Creek 10st 6lb, Poungach 9st 12lb and Aiteen Thirtythree 9st 8lb

Nicky Henderson has 3 entries In Roberto Goldback 10st 6lb, Triolo d'Alene 10st 2lb and Hadrian's Approach 10st 1lb.

Alan King has the anti-post favourite Invictus, 10 stone, Walkon 10st 6lb and Godsmejudge at 10st 3lb

David Pipe has 3 entries In Our Father 10st 2 lb Goulanes 10st 1lb and Buddy Bolero 9st 10lb.

There has been no Irish winners since 1980 although Be My Royal was first past the post in 2002, he was disqualified after a dope test.

The Irish raiders looking at bagging the Cup are Willie Mullin's Prince de Beauchene 10st 10lb, Terminal 9st 13lb, On His Own 9st 13lb, Vesper Bell 9st 11lb and Themoonandsixpence 8st 12lb

Jim Culloty will be entering the Irish Novice Lord Windermere. 10 st 9lb although I believe If Jim see's one drop of rain on the Newbury course, he'll withdraw him.

Tony Martin's Irish raiders are Dedigout 10st 5lb, Tofino Bay 10st 4lb

, Tom Taaffe's Argocat 10st 4lb and Whodoyouthink 9st 1lb from Oliver McKiernan's yard.

This Is a tough one... I'd really like to see Unioniste do well here but I will wait until Friday night before deciding on a win bet. The going and late withdrawals need taking Into account here.

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Posted by Arena

Hadrian's Approach........

Why ?

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Interesting how the betting has gone In a few days.

Lord Windermere goes In at second favourite from 12/1 to 8/1

Invictus goes out to 9/1 with Ladbrookes

The favourite Is now Rocky Creek at 7/1

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Day before the race and yep, Tidal Bay, not surprised at all, withdrawn.

Must be some serious money being laid here and It was a wise decision ( maybe ) to risk taking 12/1 anti post on Lord Windermere last week as he now heads the field as 8/1 joint favourite with Rocky Creek while Invictus drifts out to 10/1

The going Is likely to be good which will suit Lord Windermere so I am sticking with him and an each way bet on Our Father

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The result and my congratulations to Nicky Henderson.

1st 10 Triolo D'alene (FR) N J Henderson 6 11-1 B J Geraghty 20/1

Held up rear of mid-division, tracked leaders and travelling well from 10th, led 3 out, strongly pressed when hit last, soon joined, stayed on strongly under pressure to assert final 150 yards opened 16/1

2nd 2¾ 7 Rocky Creek (IRE) P F Nicholls 7 11-5 D A Jacob 8/1

In touch, headway to chase leaders before 16th, challenged, went 2nd and every chance 3 out, chased winner, every chance as winner hit last, upsides flat, no extra and held final 150 yards £8000-£1000 £2700-£300

3rd 1¾ 16 Theatre Guide (IRE) C L Tizzard 6 10-13 t J Tizzard 33/1

Held up towards rear, steady headway 16th, went 3rd approaching 2 out, edged left approaching last, hung left and kept on same pace flat

4th 9 18 Highland Lodge (IRE) Miss E C Lavelle 7 10-11 L Aspell 6/1

Led until 5th, pressed leader, led again 10th until 4 out, chased leader until next, driven and no extra in 4th approaching next opened 8/1

5th 4½ 19 Merry King (IRE) Jonjo O'Neill 6 10-8 R P Mclernon 12/1

Held up towards rear of mid-division, keeping on when blundered 2 out, hung badly left soon after, plugged on to modest 5th flat opened 10/1

6th s.h 5 Houblon Des Obeaux (FR) Miss V Williams 6 11-8 L Treadwell 25/1

Held up towards rear, pushed along and struggling before 4 out, stayed on under pressure flat, not reach leaders opened 20/1

7th 1¾ 12 Our Father (IRE) D Pipe 7 11-1 t C O'Farrell 11/2f

Held up towards rear, pushed along in mid-division before 4 out, plugged on under pressure flat but never going pace to get involved opened 10/1 £2400-£300

8th 2½ 4 Lord Windermere (IRE) J H Culloty 7 11-8 D C Costello 7/1

Towards rear, mistake 3rd, steady headway 12th, badly hampered 14th, pushed along in mid-division before 4 out, modest 6th 2 out, weakened from last opened 8/1 £4000-£500

9th nk 17 Terminal (FR) W P Mullins 6 10-12 T Scudamore 33/1

Towards rear, badly hampered 14th, kept on under pressure flat, never involved

10th ½ 11 Same Difference (IRE) N A Twiston-Davies 7 11-1 v S Twiston-Davies 33/1

Held up towards rear, in mid-division 11th, blundered 15th, no progress after

11th 3¾ 15 Invictus (IRE) A King 7 10-13 R Thornton 8/1

Held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders travelling well 14th, ridden in well held 5th before last, weakened and eased flat

12th 1¼ 8 Cloudy Too (IRE) Mrs S J Smith 7 11-4 R Johnson 20/1

Mid-division, headway to chase leaders 10th, hit 15th, went 2nd after 17th, led 4 out, mistake and headed 3 out, weakened quickly next

13th 2¼ 3 Prince De Beauchene (FR) W P Mullins 10 11-9 R Walsh 16/1

Held up in touch in mid-division, headway to chase leaders 11th, ridden and weakened soon after 3 out opened 20/1

14th 8 20 Loch Ba (IRE) M R Channon 7 10-1 D Elsworth 16/1

Always towards rear, never a factor

15th 36 21 Whodoyouthink (IRE) O McKiernan 8 10-0 p P F Mangan (3) 100/1

Chased leaders until lost place approaching 8th, tailed off from 12th

16th 7 1 Cape Tribulation J M Jefferson 9 11-12 Jack Doyle 50/1

Slightly hampered 14th, pushed along and struggling after 16th, always towards rear,

PU 6 Imperial Commander (IRE) N A Twiston-Davies 12 11-7 t P J Brennan 20/1

Pressed leader, led 5th until 10th, chased leader until weakened quickly 17th, immediately pulled up

PU 9 Super Duty (IRE) D McCain Jnr 7 11-2 J M Maguire 14/1

In touch, blundered 5th, reminders and lost place 9th, tailed off when hampered 14th, pulled up before 17th

F 2 Katenko (FR) Miss V Williams 7 11-11 Aidan Coleman 20/1

Chasing leaders when fell 14th opened 16/1

F 13 Opening Batsman (IRE) H Fry 7 11-0 pt N Fehily 25/1

Towards rear, fell 5th

UR 14 Hadrian's Approach (IRE) N J Henderson 6 11-0 p1 Nico de Boinville (5) 12/1

Chased leaders, mistake and unseated rider 5th