Saturday at Newbury will see an extremely competitive 2012 renewal of The Hennessy, as well as the enigmatic return of the record breaking Big Bucks, who will win the Long Distance Hurdle at prohibitively short odds. Aside from that, the card is rounded off with some very interesting handicaps, most notably the 13.25 – a two and three quarter mile handicap chase, and the 14.35 – a two mile three furlong handicap hurdle.
Starting with the sixteen runner handicap chase, with some decent novices turning out, and plenty of unexposed types. Rolling Aces, Godsmejudge and Seven Woods all will be popular in the betting due to their generally attractive profile and running for ‘sexy’ connections, but they will be likely to go off too short for my liking as such. That takes out the Henderson, Nicholls and King runners. Patsy Finnegan looks Alan King’s second string, and I wouldn’t be able to have, and with the Tizzard, Twiston-Davies and O’ Neill stables not in their best form, I wouldn’t be looking at Merry King, Handy Andy or Listen Boy.
Gores Island and Amirico are likely to be outsiders who will be lacking a bit of fitness, whereas as last time out winners Benheir and Master Neo will be pretty sharp, but accordingly will be poorly handicapped due to their recent wins and revised marks. Ballypatrick would be interesting with most Henrietta Knight runners improving since switching to Mick Channon, although the run last time was uninspiring at Ascot. Benny’s Mist goes for the in-form Venetia Williams stable, but the drying out ground would be against him, although he is respected. Sir Kezbah still looks saddled with an unworkable mark, and although now only 5lb higher than his last winning mark, isn’t for me.
The race revolves around two horses for in form stables, the first being GLOBAL POWER for Oliver Sherwood and Leighton Aspell, and SHERWANI WOLF for Charlie Longsdon and Noel Fehily. Global Power was mightily impressive last time out, winning a nice beginners chase at Fontwell over two and a half miles, and although a bit of a monkey at times, he could well back it up. On his day he was a very good hurdler, and the step up in trip combined with the switch to chasing, should continue the horse’s upward curve. Sherwani Wolf has another likable profile, never really involved and desperately needing the run last time out. The stable is now in better form, and the step up in trip should suit, with cheekpieces being applied first time.
The handicap hurdle looks slightly more straightforward, and instead of working out what hopefully can’t win, let’s work on those that can. At Fishers Cross looks badly handicapped for winning easy novice hurdles, and the likes of Salubrious and Ardlui have similar profiles. The two I like here at hopefully decent prices are SCOTS GAELIC and KINGCORA. Venetia Williams is having a good season with horse’s first time out, and although off a mark of 136, the four year old has some very strong form in France, and will be fit and ready for the season ahead. Her horses are generally under-priced compared to more fashionable connections. Same with Scots Gaelic for Tim Vaughan, who had a nice winner on Friday, and was a solid dual purpose horse in Ireland. He was last seen chasing home Foildubh, who has since run solid races behind Flemenstar and Hidden Cyclone next time out, and he should be a price.
THE PACKAGE has been my long term fancy for The Hennessy since the initial declarations were announced, and his win last time out at Wincanton was a double edged sword for me, as it meant he would be a worse price and weight. Up 8lb seem fair, and I am still adamant he is better than his mark, with his form over three mile handicap chases being incredibly strong. The yard have been unlucky with this precocious beast, but with the trainers record in this and Timmy Murphy doing the steering, he is well worth the price, and I can not see him being outside the first four home. Fruity O’ Rooney looks another nicely handicapped down at the bottom of the weights, and has the type of unexposed profile that suits. He had a nice tune up around Cheltenham over hurdles to protect his mark, and the trip and ground should be perfect for him, he looks a cracking each way punt.
The final race of the three day Hennessy meeting is a fifteen runner handicap chase over the extended two miles, and looks another fascinating contest. Michael Flips, Consigliere, Oh Crick and Takeroc are all the class horse that are trickling down the handicap, but they may be vulnerable to the more unexposed and progressive types, although it would be no surprise to see any of them bounce back. Younger horses seem to struggle in these types of competitive affairs, and I would look past On Trend, Tatispout and Ulck Du Lin as a result. Patrick Corbett is proving to be a very useful claimer, and his 10lb can rectify his hike in the weights on GUS MACRAE. A winner of good handicap chases at Aintree and Ascot, and although up 14lb for the two runs, he is improving nicely, and the eight year old can seal the hatrick in the finale.
13.25 Newbury – Selection: Global Power, Alternative: Sherwani Wolf
14.35 Newbury – Selection: Scots Gaelic, Alternative: Kingcora
15.10 Newbury – Selection: The Package, Alternative: Fruity O’ Rooney
15.40 Newbury – Selection: Gus Macrae (Nap)
The Yorkshireman - Jack Milner
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