Hennessy Gold Cup 2012 Newbury

[Lester]

Open meeting over so time to think about this.

Looks like Henderson run Burton Port so should leave Bob's Worth with a few lbs less.

http://www.fatjockey.com/festivals/racing_festivals.php?Hennessy-Gold-Cup-Stats-95

[Old Vic]

NO. HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER RTF% JOCKEY OR TS RPR
2/242- Burton Port233 8 11-12 Nicky Henderson 166 160 173
2541-1 Tidal Bay28 11 11-12 Paul Nicholls 66 146 172
72142- The Giant Bolster260 7 11-10 David Bridgwater 164 166 176
13PF- Weird Al231 9 11-10 Donald McCain 164 — —
27F7-1 Kauto Stone28 6 11-8 Paul Nicholls 162 118 172
2887-1 Roberto Goldback28 10 11-8 Nicky Henderson 162 129 168
1321- Bobs Worth262 7 11-6 Nicky Henderson 160 163 174
223-42 First Lieutenant28 7 11-5 M F Morris 159 149 174
5110-P Calgary Bay14 9 11-4 Mick Channon 158 152 171
11P2-1 Cristal Bonus28 6 11-3 Paul Nicholls 157 142 168
1114-P Grands Crus14 7 11-3 David Pipe 157 170 179
21/46- Ballabriggs231 11 11-2 Donald McCain 156 169 170
82FP- Junior224 9 11-1 David Pipe 155 145 174
2175-P Quantitativeeasing14 7 11-1 Nicky Henderson 155 165 170
5145-4 Time For Rupert28 8 11-1 Paul Webber 155 170 177
230-5 Planet Of Sound28 10 10-12 Philip Hobbs 152 157 172
P47P-2 Wayward Prince28 8 10-10 Hilary Parrott 150 139 170
110-3 Hold On Julio42 9 10-8 Alan King 148 150 174
11P3-7 Join Together28 7 10-8 Paul Nicholls 148 156 176
18511- Lion Na Bearnai236 10 10-8 Thomas Gibney 148 94 173
11229- Shakalakaboomboom231 8 10-8 Nicky Henderson 148 158 173
P09-L0 Carruthers14 9 10-7 Mark Bradstock 147 132 136
715U- Tatenen231 8 10-7 Richard Rowe 147 157 171
55/4-1 The Package21 9 10-7 David Pipe 147 149 171
0O1-12 Balthazar King15 8 10-6 Philip Hobbs 146 157 171
1P11-8 Teaforthree14 8 10-6 Rebecca Curtis 146 165 175
1325-0 Fruity O´Rooney42 9 10-5 Gary Moore 145 157 174
24U01- Saint Are231 6 10-5 Tim Vaughan 145 144 171
6050-6 Tartak42 9 10-5 Tim Vaughan 145 165 175
2511-2 Duke Of Lucca28 7 10-4 Philip Hobbs 144 144 170
121P- Giles Cross231 10 10-4 Victor Dartnall DOUBTFUL 144 155 173
0P1-2 Michel Le Bon21 9 10-4 Paul Nicholls 144 142 174
80-614 Muirhead37 9 10-4 Noel Meade 144 150 155
1211-5 Problema Tic14 6 10-4 David Pipe 144 146 172
45PP-P Diamond Harry21 9 10-3 Nick Williams 143 166 179
PP-522 Magnanimity16 8 10-3 D T Hughes 143 143 177
2/1-3P Ace High28 8 10-2 Victor Dartnall DOUBTFUL 142 118 175
411-05 Cape Tribulation28 8 10-2 Malcolm Jefferson 142 137 167
112P-P Harry The Viking14 7 10-2 Paul Nicholls 142 158 175
P1FP-3 West End Rocker21 10 10-2 Alan King 142 172 179
21P-P Zarrafakt21 8 10-2 Emma Lavelle 142 99 176
21U-4F Frisco Depot28 8 10-1 Charlie Longsdon 141 149 176
P9-42P Galaxy Rock14 8 10-1 Jonjo O´Neill 141 150 173
211P-4 Ikorodu Road30 9 10-1 Matt Sheppard 141 154 170
P11-F7 Darna29 6 10-0 Kim Bailey 140 142 172
1/21B- Soll262 7 9-13 Jo Hughes 139 144 170
1235-3 Alfie Spinner28 7 9-12 Nick Williams 138 153 173
345-34 Fair Along28 10 9-9 Philip Hobbs 135 143 174
1F01-9 Baile Anrai28 8 9-7 Ian Williams 133 128 171
0/90-1 Away We Go39 9 9-1 W P Mullins 127 — —
408-44 Vino Griego20 7 8-13 Gary Moore 125 140 162
9P1126 Bundle Of Fun14 9 8-12 W P Mullins 124 125 161

[Statto]

Stats from ATR Paul Jones

The Oaksey-family’s home-bred Carruthers provided a fairytale result that so many in racing craved for last season but not so for followers of trends as, being a fourth-season chaser, he certainly did not fit the profile with the Hennessy being a race that has been dominated by second-season novices towards the head of the market down the years.

Stat1 : RSA Chase
As such, the RSA Chase, won last season by Bobs Worth, is usually a very good place to start. The 2010 1-2, Diamond Harry and Burton Port, both contested the RSA Chase earlier in their year and the 2005 and 2007 RSA Chase winners, Trabolgan and Denman, both added the Hennessy Gold Cup to their C.V eight months later. The 2008 and 2009 Hennessy runners-up also contested the RSA Chase earlier that year.

Stat 2: Top 4 in betting

The Hennessy has very much been a race for the leading fancies with 22 of the last 28 winners starting in the first four in the betting so don’t go looking much beyond the obvious.

The other novice race to note from the previous season is the Grade 2 Mildmay Chase at the Grand National Meeting won last season by Silviniaco Conti. What’s Up Boys won both races in 2001, the 1999 Hennessy 1-2 also contested the Mildmay Chase and stretching back to the early nineties, Arctic Call finished second before his Hennessy triumph whereas Jodami finished runner-up in both races and Playschool improved on his third placing to win the Hennessy in 1987.

( Silvi to Betfair Chase ?)

Another race to respect is the Badger Ales Trophy at Wincanton, - won the The Package as Coome Hill and Teeton Mill both won that prize before their Hennessy victories whereas Kings Road was only beaten a short-head before he took top honours at Newbury. However, both the Mildmay and Badger Ales have gone quiet of late though.

In common with virtually all the big early-season handicaps, it pays to ignore the claims of older horses that are simply not open to the same amount of improvement as second and third-season chasers. Despite being a fourth-season chaser, Carruthers was still only an eight-year-old when successful last season and only the remarkable Diamond Edge, trained by Fulke Walwyn, the master of preparing a horse for this race (his seven victories remains a record) has proved successful for horses aged in double figures since Rondetto in 1967. Second-season chasers have had much the best recent record paying out nine times in the last 13 years.

Stat 3 : Paul Nicholls

Nicholls has some way to go to catch Walwyn but he has very much been the trainer to follow in the Hennessy of late winning three of the last nine renewals including a 1-2 in 2009 and Big Buck’s may well have given Nicholls a fourth win had he not unseated Sam Thomas at the final fence in 2008 when bang in contention.

A handicap in which horses carrying no more than 11st dominated between 1985-2004 with only one winner (Suny Bay) carrying more than 11st, the Hennessy has become more open recently with the five winners between 2005-2009 carrying a minimum of 11st 4lbs and two of those were top weights. The Hennessy has very much been a race for the leading fancies with 22 of the last 28 winners starting in the first four in the betting so don’t go looking much beyond the obvious. Another stat to take on board is that nine of last 12 winners had registered a victory over fences at pattern or listed level, four of which had won a Grade 1 over hurdles.

Top two Bobs Worth and The Package look like the ones to be with ..

[mayo]

Outlining running plans, he said: "Burton Port hasn't quite come to himself yet and he has got a horrible task as top weight in the Hennessy.

[Cooper]

Is Diamond Harry gone at the game or plotted ? Tipped here:

Diamond Harry and Carruthers are both nine years old, whilst Planet Of Sound is a year older, and all three look overpriced for the Newbury showpiece, with the latest forfeit stage leaving 35 possible runners for the race.

Firstly let's deal with DIAMOND HARRY.

Since winning this race in 2010, Nick Williams' flag-bearer has done a woeful job, stumbling and tripping with the stable's colours like the Chuckle Brothers on an ice rink. Carrying a pane of glass. Blindfolded.

He has failed to complete on his last three starts, however as a result the handicapper now has him on a mark of 143, some 13lbs lower than two years ago.

It is easy to argue that the horse looks to have completely gone, and a poor run here could easily signal an early(ish) retirement, but I'm keen to give him the benefit of the doubt.

His Newbury record is exceptional, reading 1-1-1-3-1-1, and it's also worth remembering that he was pulled-up on his previous run before taking this race two years ago.

He clearly wasn't fit on his reappearance at Wincanton in the Badger Ales Trophy, and he also didn't seem to appreciate being held up away from the action, with Noel Fehily trying to keep him wide away from the attentions of the errant-jumping Triangular.

But he's a different horse at Newbury and with that effort likely to have blown away any cobwebs, the chance to carry a light weight in a big handicap could be exactly what he needs; at 33/1 he looks worth giving one more chance to.

Another 33/1 shot is CARRUTHERS, another former winner of the race.

His moment in the sun came just 12 months ago, yet after a series of poor runs, he too is another very well-handicapped horse; he's just 1lb higher than that glorious win.

Mark Bradstock's stable star is another who comes alive at this Berkshire venue, and once again it's easy to point to his course record which stands at 1-6-1. If we compare that to his Cheltenham record (where three of his last runs have come), which reads 11-4-2-4-9-3-10-LFT (left at start) -11, then his profile is even more attractive.

His win came with a tongue-tie on, so connections should reach for that apparatus once again, and the hurly-burly, strong pace and hustle and bustle of this contest (cliché hat-trick) suits him down to the ground.

A slightly shorter price, but another horse who has history in this race, is Philip Hobbs' 25/1 chance PLANET OF SOUND.

The son of Kayf Tara never used to strike me as a strong stayer but there's no denying that it's where he seems most at home these days, striking out his Grand National attempt which is a different kettle of fish completely.

Second in this race last year off a mark of 158, he should come on for his Charlie Hall Chase fifth where he jumped neatly but ran out of steam before the turn for home. He wasn't beaten up by regular jockey Richard Johnson and the margin of defeat was exaggerated as a result.

Once again a liking for Newbury is very much in his favour (career record here is 2-1-1-1-2) and it's interesting to note that since State Of Play's success in 2006, every winner of the Hennessy had previously won at the track.

It's a recurring theme but Hobbs' charge is undeniably well-handicapped, being 6lbs lower than last season's run, and another big run looks on the cards with this race an obvious long-term target.

Obviously there are some horses at the head of the betting that have a much sexier profile.

The Package impressed at Wincanton in the Badger Ales but his trainer David Pipe has used that race as a stepping-stone to Cheltenham's big handicap next month for the horse in the past and he might just be running here because of that win, rather than as part of an original plan.

Nicky Henderson's Bobs Worth deservedly heads the betting but he's short enough for this reappearance, with just four runs over fences under his belt, and his comeback last season not overly impressive. I'd rather take a punt on him improving over the year and being a legitimate Cheltenham Gold Cup contender (currently priced at 8/1), a course where he is unbeaten in four starts.

His stablemate Burton Port cannot be ignored despite his trainer's words of caution (slow to come to hand this year), whilst Hold On Julio looks well-handicapped but his jumping has deteriorated over the last year and if he fences like he did at Cheltenham last time then he'll be up against it.

Paul Nicholls, who has a fine record in the race, has a trio of entries but you don't have to be Poirot (it is Movember after all) to work out that Michel Le Bon is a big threat.

He was well-held in this race last season but was running after a two year absence and he's much more interesting judged by his second to The Package last time out. He's won at Newbury before and looks the best of those horses priced at 10/1 or less.

However I'm happy to stick with three horses at bigger odds, and cross my fingers that the return to Newbury sparks all three to run the big race that they are all capable of.

Recommended advice

1 pt wins on Planet Of Sound at 25/1, Carruthers at 33/1 and Diamond Harry at 33/1

[Statto]

Mr Racecaller

The Hennessy Gold Cup takes place at Newbury on Saturday 1st December. Run over 3M 2˝F, it’s a grade 3 handicap chase which usually attracts a high class field of staying chasers. In 2002 Be My Royal won the race was disqualified weeks later due to a banned substance, from a trends point of view we will count Be My Royal as the winner in 2002.



Below we take a look at the trends for the past 10 years:



Age (Win-Place-Runners)

5yo: 0-0-3

6yo: 3-9-26

7yo: 4-7-58

8yo: 2-4-34

9yo: 1-5-41

10yo: 0-3-16

11yo+: 0-0-5

6 and 7 year olds have the best record (combined 7-16-84) which compares well to all others ages (combined 3-12-99).

Diamond Edge in 1981 is only horse aged over 9 to have won this in the last 40 years while Denman (in 2009) is the only horse aged older than 8 to have won this in past 10 years, when winning it for second time.



Weight (Win-Place-Runners)

Horses carrying 11-0 or more: 6-8-46

Horses carrying less than 11-0: 4-20-137

Higher weights hold the call in this with 5 of the last 7 winners all carrying 11-4 or more, in 2 other years there have only been 3 horses carrying 11-0+, 2 of those 3 were placed.

Top Weight: 0F91P1313P (3-2-10) has gained 3 wins and 2 places in last 6 years, though Denman has twice carried top weight to victory, which slightly skews the top weight statistic.



Official Ratings

Horses rated 164 to 182: 1-1-4

Horses rated 145 to 163: 6-15-86

Horses rated 126 to 144: 3-12-93

The last 7 winners were officially rated 145 or higher.

Horses rated 160+ have gained 2 wins & 1 place, however all were achieved by Denman.



Recent/Past Form

9 of 10 winners had won over 3M 1F+ (exception was placed in previous year's Hennessy)

9 of 10 winners finished in the first 3 on last completed start

6 of 10 winners had run 3 to 6 times over fences (3 of 4 exceptions had finished in first 6 in a previous renewal)

6 of 10 winners were second season chasers

7 of 10 winners had won at least 50% of their chase starts

9 of 10 winners had run in 5 or fewer handicap chases

10 of 10 winners had won at class 2 or higher over fences

7 of 10 winners (last 5) had won a graded chase

5 of 10 winners (last 5) had won a chase over 2M4F or further at Newbury (other 5 were having first chase start here)



Other Races

Previous season's winner (Carruthers): 3 (0-1-1)

RSA Chase winner (Bobs Worth): 5F11P (2-0-5)

Previous season's Berkshire Novice Chase winner (Bobs Worth): 61 (1-0-2)

Previous season's Steel Plate & Sections Novice Chase winner (Grands Crus): 618 (1-0-3)

Weatherite Novices' Chase winner (Duke Of Lucca): 1P0 (1-0-3)

John Smith's Handicap Chase winner (Saint Are): 6710 (1-0-4)

Irish National winner (Lion Na Bearnai): 3 (0-1-1)

Previous Worcester Nov Chase winner (Grands Crus): 350 (0-1-3)

Badger Ales Trophy Handicap Chase winner (The Package): 3P50 (0-1-4)

Ten Up Novice Chase winner (Lion Na Bearnai): PF (0-0-2)

Majordomo Hospitality Handicap Chase winner (Shakalakaboomboom): 0P (0-0-2)

Bet365 Gold Cup winner (Tidal Bay): 067 (0-0-3)

3 of 6 second season chaser winners ran in RSA Chase last time, finishing 11P

2 of 3 fourth season chaser winners ran in RSA in their novice season, finishing 14

2 of 6 second season chaser winners ran in previous Feltham Chase, finishing 25

Carruthers may try to repeat last year’s win, the only previous horse to win back to back runnings was Arkle.



Running Style

8 of 10 winners (last 7) raced with the leaders throughout



Trainers

Paul Nicholls (3-6-22) has won the race 3 times in past 10 years, including twice with Denman (07 & 09) and may have won it a fourth time but for Big Buck’s unseating in 2008.

Nicky Henderson (1-3-10) saddled the winner in 2005 and has had a placed finisher in 3 of the last 6 renewals.

David Pipe (1-2-8) trained a winner and 2 placed finishers in past 5 years.

Willie Mullins (1-1-5), Nick Williams (1-0-1) & Mark Bradstock have each trained the winner in past 10 years.

Philip Hobbs (0-3-13) last trained the winner in 2001 and trained the 2nd & 3rd last year.



Price

8 of last 9 winners were sent off 10/1 or shorter

No massive trend on the prices though the first 4 in the betting have been responsible for 7 of the last 9 winners.

Favourites (3-2-10) have won 3 renewals in past 10 years & show a level stakes profit of 0.00.



Summary:

Based on trends from the past 10 years you are looking for a horse:

Aged 6 to 8
Carrying 11-0+
Officially rated 145 to 159
Run in 3 to 6 chases (winning at least half) or finished in first 6 in a previous Hennessy
Won a class 2 or better chase over 3M 1F+
Previously won a listed or graded chase
Finished in the first 3 last time out
Run in 5 or fewer handicap chases
Won a chase at Newbury over 2M 4F+ (or having first chase run here)
Tends to race prominently
Second season chaser that ran in last season’s RSA and/or Feltham Chase
Trained by P Nicholls, D Pipe, N Henderson or P Hobbs
Priced 10/1 or shorter

[Old Vic]

The package out ?

[Statto]

Taking out horses not between 6-8 and rated 140-152 leaves

10 715U- Tatenen231 8 10-7 Richard Rowe 147 157 171
12 1P11-8 Teaforthree14 8 10-6 Rebecca Curtis20 146 165 175
14 24U01- Saint Are231 6 10-5 Tim Vaughan67 145 144 171
15 2511-2 Duke Of Lucca28 7 10-4 Philip Hobbs40 144 144 170
17 PP-522 Magnanimity16 8 10-3 D T Hughes69 143 143 177
18 112P-P Harry The Viking14 7 10-2 Paul Nicholls52 Daryl Jacob 142 158 175
20 21U-4F Frisco Depot28 8 10-1 Charlie Longsdon64 Mr S Waley-Cohen5 141 149 176

Not sure Sam Waley Cohen can do the weight and on my cold list now anyway.Need to look at others more closely.

[mayo]

THE Hennessy Gold Cup is a special race. It isn’t just about the 21 fences or 3m 2f slog in soft ground. It has the longest commercial sponsorship of any race in Britain and has been won by seven horses who have also grabbed Cheltenham Gold Cup glory. Thirty five runners have stood their ground for this year’s renewal on December 1 after yesterday’s forfeits, so where is the ante-post value for punters?

Tidal Bay heads the weights with 11st 12lbs but Bobs Worth is the favourite and he ticks all the boxes. He won the RSA Chase at this year’s Cheltenham Festival, isn’t too harshly treated and is trained by Nicky Henderson, who knows what it takes to prepare a Hennessy winner (Trabolgan). But Bobs Worth is as low as 7/2 and that offers little value. Henderson also has easy Ascot winner Roberto Goldback in the field but faces a dilemma about whether to run. If he does go he looks solid each-way value.

But the horse who stands out a mile is Hold On Julio. Again, he has the right profile: he will stay, loves soft ground and is on an upward curve. He also has the perfect weight (10st 8lb) and ran a cracker first time out at Cheltenham. He has been aimed at the race by the in-form Alan King and is currently available at around 9/1 and this looks good value.

There has already been ante-post cash for The Package after his Badger Ales victory at Wincanton but punters have done their money on this chap before in big-race gambles. Two ante-post springers have been Frisco Depot and Saint Are. Both have attracted plenty of support and are at the right end of the handicap.

But of more each-way interest could be last year’s winner Carruthers who is 25/1 and the 2010 Hennessy winner Diamond Harry (33/1), who has been out of sorts but loves Newbury and has slipped down the handicap.

[mayo]

RICHARD ROWE never managed to win the Hennessy as a jockey, but is hoping outsider Tatenen can defy his long odds and give him success as a trainer in Saturday's prestigious handicap at Newbury.

The eight-year-old, who races in the colours of the Stewart family, has not been seen since unseating Andrew Thornton in the Grand National in April.

A 50-1 chance for the Hennessy, he was among 22 horses left in the race on Monday.

Rowe, who finished third on the Josh Gifford-trained Door Latch in the 1985 Hennessy, said: "I confirmed him for the Hennessy this morning. I bought him to Kempton last Friday and galloped him over two and a half miles and he went really well. I can't wait for the race."

[Hoof]

looking at stattos shortlist - thought teaforthree is being aimed at Welsh National ?

[Statto]

Dunwoody

Being a handicap the Hennessy has always been a chance for some of the lesser lights to pit their wits against the classer staying types, and although seven horses have gone onto land the Cheltenham Gold Cup that same season, only Denman in 2007-08 has managed it recently.

So can this year's likely favourite, Bobs Worth, who also figures high up in the betting for the Gold Cup, land this before going onto Cheltenham?

Nicky Henderson's charge, who we last saw landing the RSA Chase, will head into the race as one of the highest-rated and with 3 of the last 5 winners being 7 year-olds then he does have a lot going for him. Add in a course win here at Newbury, when beating Cue Card in a decent novice chase last November, then he's also got experience of these fences.

Those looking to take him on will look back at his form and notice that Saturday's ground is likely to be the softest he's ever encountered, but when you add in positive trends (see below) like age, course form and weight, to the fact the Henderson horses are running well and that he's won first time out for the past two seasons then, for me, his pluses far outweigh his negatives.

Last year's winner Carruthers is also entered at this stage and being just 1lb higher this time he's been given every chance from that angle. He'll love the heavy ground, but will need to put a very poor recent run behind him. We all know the mighty Denman took this prize twice (2007 & 2009), but the last horse to win the Hennessy Gold Cup back-to-back was Arkle in 1964-65!

Alan King will be hoping their exciting Hold On Julio makes the line-up and this lightly-raced 9 year-old looks an ideal Hennessy type, while a recent third at Cheltenham would have blown the cobwebs away.

Tidal Bay seems to have found a new lease of life now he's with the Nicholls team, and was eye-catching the way he stayed on in the closing stages to win at Wetherby over hurdles last time - a win that followed-up his victory in the Bet365 Chase last April. There has been a bit of money for him during the week, but he's now 12lbs higher than that Sandown win and although we've seen three horses win with 11-12 in the last 10 years it won't be easy carrying that kind of weight in really soft ground.

The Package is another that figures prominently in the betting after his Badger Ales Trophy Chase win, but an 8lb hike in the weights makes life harder here. On a plus, he's gone well at Newbury in the past, winning over hurdles and coming second over fences, and seems to act on most ground, but he struggled off this mark last season so, for me, does have a bit to prove still.

The final one worth a mention at a big price is Philip Hobbs' Planet Of Sound, who was second in this race 12 months ago. The Hobbs team have found their form at the right time with a whole host of winners in the last week and with him also being 6lb lower in the ratings than 12 months ago then he could be interesting. He's also won over fences here at Newbury, but it remains to be seen if connections risk him on ground this heavy.

Hennessy Gold Cup Trends

9/10 - Won a chase over at least 3m previously

9/10 - Raced at Newbury previously (5 had won over fences at the track)

9/10 - Won by a horse aged 8 or younger

8/10 - Won a Grade 3 or better class chase race previously

8/10 - Won between 2-5 previous races over fences

8/10 - Priced 10/1 or shorter

7/10 - Winning distance - 2 ˝ lengths or more

7/10 - Raced at either Aintree (2) or Cheltenham (5) last time

7/10 - Placed in the first 3 in their latest race

7/10 - Won by a horse aged either 6 or 7 years-old

7/10 - Officially rated between 140 and 151

7/10 - Carried 10-13 or more in weight

5/10 - Had raced already that season

5/10 - Won their last race

5/10 - Won by an Irish-bred

5/10 - Favourites unplaced

3/10 - Favourites that won (1 joint)

3/10 - Trained by Paul Nicholls

2/10 - Ridden by jockey Ruby Walsh

2/10 - Trained by the Pipe stable

11 winners (50%) aged 7 years-old since 1990 (22 runnings)

The average SP in the last 10 runnings is 9/1

Only one winner aged in double-figures since 1968 (1981 Diamond Edge, 10)

[mayo]

Something that you never expect to see in print

Carruthers will bid to emulate the brilliant Arkle and land back-to-back victories in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury on Saturday.

[Frosty]

Hendo changes His mind again


The Seven Barrows handler visited the Berkshire track on Tuesday afternoon and liked what he saw.

"At the moment, the plan would be for both Roberto Goldback and Bobs Worth to run," he said.

Henderson had expressed some concerns about the going for Bobs Worth earlier in the week but those have largely gone due to the fresh ground at the track.

He said: "The ground is in good nick there - it's Newbury's first meeting of the season which has helped.

"In other years it would have been the second or third meeting and while I'd usually sooner have had those extra meetings, it may have worked in everyone's favour this time.

"If they had had a couple of meetings already, it would have been much worse.

"They are saving some fresh ground for Saturday and we have a couple of dry days forecast so it might not be that bad."

Henderson is set to be double-handed after deciding to let Roberto Goldback take his chance at Newbury on Saturday.

The Seven Barrows handler had initially indicated the 10-year-old would run at Newbury on Friday but those plans have now changed.

"We've had a slight change of heart and we have decided Roberto Goldback will run in the Hennessy after all," he said.

"He's a stayer and while it will be testing ground, he's not a two-and-a-half-miler.

"It's not going to be easy as he has a lot of weight, but we are happy with him.

"The ground will not be within a million miles of what he really wants but it seemed pointless to run in the shorter race.

"I had a little chat with Simon Munir (his owner) and Anthony Bromley and we decided to go for the Hennessy instead.

"He's gone up in the handicap and he probably won't win over two and a half miles on that ground. He probably won't win over three and a quarter [either], but we will take our chance."

[Cooper]

Any updates on First Lieutenant ?