My selections are in bold type. Other horses mentioned can be considered the main dangers.
Newbury
12.30 Former bumper winner Kentford Grey Lady has posted a couple of decent efforts over hurdles this season and should be on the premises here.
1.35 Rock of Deauville has been expensive to follow and having tipped him the last twice I am going to opt for a watching brief this time.
2.10 This is not a betting race but it is fascinating nonetheless. Grands Crus was impressive when winning on his chase debut and will be odds on to win again here. It will be interesting to see how the highly rated Sonofvic gets on.
2.45 Buffalo Bob is a course and distance winner, has had the benefit of a recent run and his stable are beginning to find some form after a slow start to the season.
Taunton
2.20 Marleno reverts to hurdles after a couple of runs over fences. He is a consistent sort.
Thurles
2.40 A point to point and bumper winner Leave Him Alone comes into the race on the back of a win in a modest contest at Galway last month. Needs to improve to take this.
Uttoxeter
12.20 A bumper winner at Bangor Tarn Hows was second here over hurdles in June.
12.50 Jetnova and Golden Chieftain both fell on their chase debuts making this a tricky race to weight up. Cross Kennon was a long way last of 5 finishers on his chase bow so the three of them need to improve! I would be inclined to go with Golden Chieftain who was going OK until he fell.
1.25 Camas Bridge, Dixie Bull and Rose of the Moon form my short list for this race. Rose of the Moon, a bumper winner at this track would be my selection with a small each way saver on Camas Bridge.
2.35 Multiple winner Lovey Dovey could be on a winnable mark.
3.05 Ibn Hiyyan is another that may be well handicapped.
3.40 Dannancey’s Hill won a weak Irish point to point but may well be good enough tom score here.
Nap of the day
Lovey Dovey
Dark horse
Tarn Hows
From the archives
Continuing our look back at the history of the Hennessy Gold Cup the 1979 renewal featured Zongalero, a fancied runner from the Nicky Henderson stable. He has finished second in the Mackeson, the Massey Ferguson Handicap and the grand National. Master Smudge has beaten a top class field in the Sun Alliance at Cheltenham while Fighting Fit has won the Scottish National at Ayr. On the day Zongalero has to settle for second once again as victory went to Fighting Fit ridden by Richard Linley.
Zongalero was again in the line up the following year when Bright Highway looked to be the first horse to win the Mackeson/Hennessy double. Peter Scott had won the 1979 Welsh National and had only fallen once in 21 starts while the progressive Silent Valley had finished 2nd in the Scottish National and recently made all to win at Wetherby. In a thrilling finish Bright Highway got the better of Silent Valley with Peter Scott some way back in 3rd.
The 1981 renewal went to the populat Diamond Edge, wtice a winner in the Whitbread at Sandown. He gave his trainer Fulke Walwyn a remarkable 7th win the race.
There was a strong line up for the 1981 race with Dual Champion Hurdle winner Night Nurse, who had been second in the 1981 Gold Cup together with future Grand National winner Corbiere for Jenny Pitman. It was trainer Michael Dickinson who took the honours though with Bregawn and Captain John first and second respectively.
Turf trivia
Cochise, who runs in the Thurles 1.35 has some pretty unimpressive form figures having managed just two wins form 33 starts. If you isolate just his runs at Thurles though a different story emerges. His form figures then read 212P1F. He is appropriately named after an apache chief as his dam was Indian Legend.
ahorse 