Racing: Montifault heads Hennessy acceptors

Paul Nicholls, who trains hot-favourite Montifault, has today removed his three highest-weighted contenders for the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup.

Exeter third Fadalko, ex-Cheltenham Gold Cup winner See More Business and Wetherby third Shotgun Willy were not among the 47 possibles at today’s forfeit stage for the £100,000 handicap chase on December 1.

But, as well as impressive Wincanton winner Montifault, the Somerset handler also has Ad Hoc in the field.

Montifault is, despite a 4lb-penalty, still set to race from out of the handicap at 9st 10lb.

Other notable absentees from the original 68-strong entry are the Frances Crowley-trained Sackville, who scored in the Peterhouse Group Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby, and the Mouse Morris-trained Foxchapel King, who floored Florida Pearl at Down Royal on Saturday.

Sackville had been quoted at 8-1 and Foxchapel King at 9-1.

Crowley has also taken Moscow Express out of the race, due to be run at Newbury on December 1.

The weights will now, with the withdrawal of Fadalko and Sackville, be headed by Marlborough (up from 11st 8lb to 12st), who is trained by Nicky Henderson.

Next in the handicap will be Lord Noelie, trained by Henrietta Knight, followed by Commanche Court, trained in Ireland by Ted Walsh.

Martin Pipe still has 10 possibles, including Shooting Light, who is favourite for Saturday’s Thomas Pink Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

The only other Irish challenger apart from Commanche Court is Kings Valley, trained by Noel Meade.