2013 Hennessy Gold Cup

[Guest]

Hennessy Gold Cup Trends
10/11 – Won a chase race over at least 3m previously
10/11 – Raced at Newbury previously (6 had won over fences there)
10/11 – Won by a horse aged 8 or younger
9/11 – Won a Grade 3 or better class chase race previously
9/11 – Won between 2-5 previous races over fences before
9/11 – SP’d 10/1 or shorter in the market
8/11 – Raced at either Aintree (2) or Cheltenham (6) last time out
8/11 – Carried 10-13 or more in weight
8/11 – Placed in the first 3 last time out
8/11 – Won by a horse aged either 6 or 7 years-old
8/11 – Winning distance – 2 ½ lengths or more
7/11 – Rated between 140 and 151
6/11 – Won by an Irish-bred horse
6/11 – Won their last race
5/11 – Favourites unplaced
5/11 – Had a previous run that season
4/11 – Winning favourites (1 joint)
3/11 – Trained by the Paul Nicholls yard
2/11 – Trained by the Pipe stable
2/11 – Ridden by Ruby Walsh
The average winning SP in the last 11 runnings is 17/2 Since 1968 there has only been one winner aged in double-figures (1981 Diamond Edge, 10) Since 1990 (23 runnings) there have been 12 winners (50%) aged 7 years-old

[mayo]

who do you fancy yeehaa?

[Yeehaa]

who do you fancy yeehaa?

Waiting for decs.

Not convinced by Invictus. Rocky Creek could be the one.

Lord Windemere price is gone but should be thereabouts.

[mayo]

Yep. Might have backed Invictus with Wayne up. Super Duty for me.

[Yeehaa]

Is he running.

[Old Vic]

1 1155-P Cape Tribulation28 9 11-12 Malcolm Jefferson50 Jack Doyle 158 133 168
2 F0211- Katenko308 7 11-11 Venetia Williams43 Aidan Coleman 157 124 166
3 1/12-3 Prince De Beauchene28 10 11-9 W P Mullins55 R Walsh 155 40 163
4 21231- Lord Windermere262 7 11-8 J H Culloty Mr Robbie McNamara 154 129 163
5 3274-1 Houblon Des Obeaux28 6 11-8 Venetia Williams43 Liam Treadwell 154 132 166
6 1P/2P- Imperial Commander238 t 12 11-7 Nigel Twiston-Davies45 Paddy Brennan 153 103 166
7 21113- Rocky Creek239 7 11-5 Paul Nicholls72 Daryl Jacob 151 141 166
8 1103-1 Cloudy Too27 7 11-4 Sue Smith40 Richard Johnson 150 144 170
9 21224- Super Duty239 7 11-2 Donald McCain50 Jason Maguire 148 143 165
10 381-13 Triolo D´Alene28 6 11-1 Nicky Henderson56 Barry Geraghty 147 149 166
11 3612-0 Same Difference28 v 7 11-1 Nigel Twiston-Davies45 Sam Twiston-Davies 147 152 166
12 P/124- Our Father294 t 7 11-1 David Pipe61 Timmy Murphy 147 115 145
13 211P-P Opening Batsman28 tp 7 11-0 Harry Fry67 Noel Fehily 146 146 168
14 2235-2 Hadrian´s Approach26 p 6 11-0 Nicky Henderson56 Nico de Boinville5 146 153 167
15 11131/ Invictus651 7 10-13 Alan King36 Robert Thornton 145 — —
16 PFP1-3 Theatre Guide26 t 6 10-13 Colin Tizzard83 Joe Tizzard 145 148 166
17 15U-0P Terminal73 6 10-12 W P Mullins55 144 141 165
18 1356-2 Highland Lodge34 7 10-11 Emma Lavelle73 Leighton Aspell 143 159 170
19 1220-2 Merry King28 6 10-8 Jonjo O´Neill59 Richie McLernon 140 144 167
20 21U5-2 Loch Ba17 7 10-1 Mick Channon67 Dominic Elsworth 133 154 167
21 5P-008 Whodoyouthink33 p 8 10-0 Oliver McKiernan Patrick Mangan3 132 111 154

[mayo]

Loch Ba the only course winner in the field?

[Sefton]

Loch Ba the only course winner in the field?

Looks that way Mayo. Trying to get my head around the Henderson horses ....Bazza doesn't usually get these wrong. Quote below

Henderson will field Hadrian's Approach and Triolo D'Alene in the Hennessy, with Barry Geraghty choosing to ride the latter. Explaining that decision, the jockey said: "Nicky asked me on Sunday, what was my feeling and I didn't really mind. Both have great chances. There's not an awful lot in it. Both had good form in the spring, both are progressive. Both have handicap experience.

"It was as much a toss of a coin ... you usually get them wrong. But obviously we'd be delighted for everyone if either horse won."

[Old Vic]

Barry's blog


*I’ve had to make a tough decision regarding the Hennessy Gold Cup because it was a very difficult call between both Nicky Henderson’s runners, Hadrian’s Approach and TRIOLO D’ALENE (3.00).

In the end I tossed a coin because I couldn’t split them and it’s quite possible that I’ve called it wrong but sometimes it’s what you have to do because you can’t ride two in a race.

Both horses have a similar profile and although Hadrian’s Approach fits the bill for this as a second season novice he also got some valuable handicap experience last season and has experience of the course, too .

He was going ok when he came down four out behind Harry Topper at this meeting a year ago in a race that has worked out and was beaten a short head at Newbury in February by Unioniste.

As for Triolo D’Alene there’s a good bit going for him as well and he has done it at a good level in handicap chases winning the Topham at Aintree and he’ll be fine over this track.

He likes nice ground – which he’s going to get – and I think the three and a quarter miles will play to his strengths, too.

On paper he has a bit to find on Houblon Des Obeaux who beat him nine lengths at Ascot when we were third.

But we were giving away 3lb and now we’re getting 7lb and when you add in the fact that my lad took a good blow and would have come on considerably for the run then I think we have serious chances – and I’m getting very good vibes from those who are around him every day.

But I won’t be surprised if Nico De Boinville and Hadrian’s Approach are right there with us turning for home and neither of us are under any illusions about the job in hand.

I don’t know if there’s a future Cheltenham Gold Cup winner in the field as there was a year ago with Bobs Worth but there might be and I have great respect for both Invictus and Lord Windermere.

The latter is going down the same route as Denman and Bobs Worth having won the RSA Chase and he’s a horse really benefitted from moving up to three miles. Off 154 he’s 6lb lower than Bobs Worth was 12 months ago – but there’s improvement in him for sure.

As for the former, I loved him as a novice and was impress with him when he beat Bobs Worth in the Reynoldstown at Ascot when Silviniaco Conti was fourth. But that was his last run back in February 2012.

It’s just a question if Alan King has been able to get him where he wants for this because I’d been impressed with his jumping and the handicapper has dropped him 5lb for being off so long.

I know others have said it before me but at ten past three on Saturday we could all be saying he was a handicap good thing off 145.

And in a tough field the other one that interests me is Our Father if only for the fact that’s he’s a Pipe runner that’s been well-backed and could have some mileage in him off 147. Looks a good horse fresh.

[Old Vic]

Ruby

I’m off on my travels again today to ride two horses for Willie Mullins at Newbury, including Prince De Beauchene in the Hennessy Gold Cup.


HIGH FLIER: Quinz (Richard Johnson) clears the water jump in The bet365 Open Handicap Steeple Chase at Newbury yesterday. Picture: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images

Ruby Walsh: THE TALK OF RACING

There’s no doubt he has his share of weight with 11-9, but I’m still expecting a big run from the ten-year-old.

I know he was well beaten on his seasonal debut behind Roi Du Mee in the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Downpatrick, but was badly in need of that outing.

Prince De Beauchene just blew up, before getting his second wind and staying on again. He will strip a lot fitter now, in what I feel is not a vintage Hennessy.

It is, of course, as you would anticipate, seriously competitive, but I doubt there’s a Denman, or even a Tidal Bay, lurking among the contenders.

Willie also runs Terminal and he is certainly working particularly well at the moment. The problem with Terminal, however, is that he has worked well in the past and then failed to replicate it on the track.

I am a big believer in the prospects of second season novices in this contest and so Jim Culloty’s Lord Windermere interests me.

I accept he has plenty of weight as well, but won the RSA Chase at Cheltenham and is clearly not short of class.

My other ride at Newbury is Vicky de L’Oasis in a Listed hurdle for mares. She was entered in a 0-130 rated hurdle at Fairyhouse today, but wasn’t qualified, which tells me the handicapper intends to give her a mark in excess of 130.

That puts her right into the mix here. She won three bumpers in France and is unbeaten in two races over flights here at home, at Wexford and Galway.

They were two ordinary contests, that’s a fact, but she stays and jumps and, have to admit, am sweet on her chances.

I’m at Fairyhouse tomorrow and feel my best shot at a winner comes in the first, a Grade 3 hurdle for juveniles, aboard Analifet.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/columnists/ruby-walsh/ruby-walsh-not-a-vintage-hennessy-so-prince-can-have-a-say-251228.html

[Statto]

For the record

Nicky Henderson has now won back-to-back renewals of this historic handicap but it is highly unlikely that TRIOLO D'ALENE will emulate Bobs Worth in going on to win the Gold Cup. The choice of Barry Geraghty, the six year old was well backed for last year's Paddy Power but disappointed there before recapturing his form to win the Topham before following up in a Huntingdon handicap prompting Geraghty to remark that 'this wasn't a Hennessy'. Rated 15lbs higher than for the first of those wins and with an encouraging run at Ascot under his belt, he joined issue with Rocky Creek travelling incredibly well and had more than enough in the locker to quicken away from his rival despite not meeting the last quite right. He will probably face a rise of at least 10lbs for this but has relatively few miles on the clock and should remain competitive. Having already won over the National fences a return to Aintree would appear the obvious objective while it must be in the back of connections' minds that he has run poorly on both visits to Cheltenham. Paul Nicholls had made no secret that this had been Rocky Creek's target for some time and it was a well executed plan, albeit one that didn't quite come off. The ground was faster than some pundits thought would be ideal but he jumped beautifully having been prominent throughout but just bumped into a better one on the day. He will face the inevitable rise in the handicap but this was only his ninth start under Rules so he may well be able to cope. His owners reported that the Grand National is his principal target and that he could take the Welsh in on the way and he certainly looks a good fit for the former as all he does is stay. Chepstow is also likely to be next for Highland Lodge who was outpaced by the principals but kept on well; connections may well fancy their chances of reversing the placings on the revised terms. Theatre Guide was an uncertain stayer but ran a huge race to help continue the fine spell being enjoyed by the Tizzards. A rise of 4 or 5lbs seems likely but this opens up many more options for the six year old who may, conceivably, just be coming to himself. He hasn't always held his form in the past, however, and it will be interesting to see if he can back this run up. Merry King stayed on well for pressure from an unpromising position in the straight; he, too, is only six and can win more races. He was closely matched with Houblon Des Obeaux on their running at Ascot and the pair appeared to run to form here. There was a plunge on Our Father who has shown his best form when fresh but he was rather on and off the bridle and, in the circumstances, did well to finish as close as he did. That offers a glimmer of hope for the future but he is clearly not easy to train. Lord Windermere wasn't helped by being hampered by the fall of Katenko when still moving with purpose and he is well worth another chance to prove this form wrong. Invictus failed to live up to his position in the market although he did enough to believe that all is not lost on this first run in well over 600 days but it was a shade disappointing to see Prince De Beauchene drop away so tamely.

[Statto]

Rumours that Nicky Henderson had forgotten how to train appear to have been greatly exaggerated. Irked by injuries and surprising defeats for much of the past fortnight, he suddenly had much to celebrate after winning the Hennessy Gold Cup here and Newcastle's Fighting Fifth in the space of an hour.

"It's nice when it perks up like that," was his understated assessment after Triolo D'Alene gave him and the jockey Barry Geraghty a second consecutive Hennessy, following Bobs Worth last year. "These are the sort of things you have to win, aren't they?" he added, alluding to the defence of his title as champion trainer, which has got off to a shaky start.

Bobs Worth was beaten out of sight at Haydock last weekend, along with Long Run, Henderson's other top-class staying chaser, while the trainer is fretting over the wellbeing of Close Touch, the best horse he has trained for the Queen, sidelined by an unspecified injury on Thursday. The trainer appeared mournful here later that day, even in the immediate aftermath of a winner, and spoke of "a very, very bad week".

When his Hadrian's Approach unseated at an early fence in the Hennessy, the trainer may have felt his luck was still out, but Triolo D'Alene moved with sustained power through the race and pulled convincingly clear of Rocky Creek on the run-in. This had seemed a highly competitive contest, drawing fancied runners from all round the country, but it evolved into a Henderson versus Paul Nicholls battle in the way that so many jump races do, including last year's Hennessy.

Triolo D'Alene was a winner over the Grand National fences in the Topham Chase in April and Geraghty has since been lobbying the trainer to give him a quiet campaign with the next National in mind. "We've mucked that up completely," said the grinning Henderson.

"I didn't do what I was told but who cares? The Hennessy's very special. We're delighted to take that home with us tonight and we'll think about the National later on."

No Hennessy winner has ever won the National, largely because the handicapper tends to respond by heaping a punitive amount of extra weight onto the backs of those who seize this prestigious prize. "Maybe he'll only get 3lb or 4lb for that," Geraghty offered in a pleading tone and he did not seem amused when this was met with guffaws from several press men.

Henderson's reaction, that this season's National was lost in this moment of victory, seems the right one, but it is by no means clear that he would prefer to win the Aintree race in any case. He seems largely to have given up on the National in recent years, fielding only the odd runner, while the Hennessy is the most significant jumps race at the local track that he loves.

Geraghty said his decision to ride Triolo D'Alene rather than Hadrian's Approach had effectively been "the toss of a coin". Indeed, his name briefly appeared next to the other horse when the final entries were announced on Thursday.

[Statto]

Barry Geraghty's instinct proved razor-sharp as his choice Triolo D'Alene gave himself and trainer Nicky Henderson their second consecutive Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury.


Grand National 2014. Click here to bet.

Triolo d'Alene (left): Landed the Hennessy
Following on from subsequent Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Bobs Worth a year ago, the 20/1 chance is viewed as more of a Crabbie's Grand National type but Geraghty still preferred him over stablemate Hadrian's Approach, an early faller.

Ironically the last jockey to ride two in a row was Paul Nicholls in the mid 1980s, and he saddled the horse who got closest to Triolo D'Alene in Rocky Creek, who was beaten two and three-quarters of a length.

Imperial Commander, who was eventually pulled up and now heads for an honourable retirement, looked younger than his 12 years as he set the pace with Highland Lodge for more than a circuit of the major winter handicap.

Katenko was another to blunder away his chance but others moving into the void were Invictus, eventual third Theatre Guide and the last-minute gamble and 11/2 favourite Our Father, who gave his supporters a brief moment of hope only to fade away again over the final couple of fences.

Triolo D'Alene cruised into contention but was pressed over the last by Rocky Creek, who was bidding for an emotional success for the Johnson and Stewart families but had no more left to give on the run-in.

Champion trainer Henderson, who also landed the 2005 running with Trabolgan, had been worried about a few of his string after a heap of seconds and a notable defeat for the hotly-tipped West Wizard, but had been reassured by the victory of his Champion Hurdle hope My Tent Or Yours at Newcastle an hour earlier.

"Four or five days ago I was in despair, but a couple of things go right and the world suddenly seems a brighter place," he said. "After he won the Topham at Aintree last season we started to think about the National, and we will think about it.

"Barry has been begging me all year to save him for the National and we were looking at Aintree next weekend. I didn't do what I was told, but the Hennessy is very special."

Geraghty admitted it had been a hard call between the pair but he would have been picking himself up off the floor if he had swerved the other way.

"It was the toss of a coin - I really fancied both of them," he said. "Sadly Nico (de Boinville) was given no chance on (Hadrian's Approach). On that ground and on a stiff track, the horse finds it so easy."

Andy Stewart, joint-owner of Rocky Creek, said: "I thought he ran very well and was just beaten by a better horse. The idea is to go for the Welsh National at Chepstow (December 28), but Aintree is the big target."

The successful six-year-old won the Topham Chase over the Grand National fences at Aintree last season and Sky Bet make Triolo d'Alene a 25/1 shot for the 2014 running of the Crabbie's Grand National.

"Although Triolo d'Alene's victory in the Hennessy Gold Cup will have done his handicap mark no good, his experience of the big Aintree fences will stand him in good stead should connections decide to have a crack at the Grand National next year," said Sky Bet spokesman Michael Shinners.