Hennessy support for Trabolgan
Last season’s Royal & SunAlliance Chase winner, who will be having his first run of the campaign in the Newbury feature, has been backed down to 5-1 market leader with Cashmans.
A total of 42 horses stood their ground at the latest forfeit stage, the weights being headed on 11st 12lb by Ollie Magern, also an intended runner in the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday.
Francois Doumen has ruled Kelami out of the race, and will instead rely on L’Ami.
Kelami, winner of the William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, was set to line up for the Grade Three event but Doumen has been unable to get the seven-year-old fit in time.
“I thought I had him ready for the Hennessy but I’ll have to wait for another comeback in England,” said Doumen. “He’s a lovely horse and he’ll probably go back to Cheltenham in March.”
The French handler delivered a far more upbeat message about L’Ami, however, who is in fine fettle ahead of the Newbury showpiece.
The six-year-old, fourth behind Trabolgan in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase last term, has been working well in France with two prep races at Auteuil this autumn already under his belt.
“He is still in need of a race but he is fine and ready,” Doumen continued.
“I’m practically sure he’ll run in the Hennessy.”
Cashmans bet: 5-1 Trabolgan, 7-1 Cornish Rebel, 10-1 King Harald, Our Vic,12-1 Lord Of Illusion, Comply Or Die.
Meanwhile, Francois Doumen believes the track at Windsor may not suit his dual Stayers’ Hurdle winner Baracouda when the 10-year-old makes his seasonal bow at the course on Friday.
Doumen’s charge will have his first run of campaign in the Grade Two Blue Square Speed Dial 64555 Hurdle, a race he has won twice before at Ascot in 2001 and 2002.
Owned by JP McManus, Baracouda was last seen finishing runner-up behind Inglis Drever in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, and is one of 17 entries for Friday’s race.
“He does everything I want him to do - he’s not fading and has been doing his best work,” said the French handler. “He’s as strong as ever and you’d need a good horse to beat him.
“It is a problem to go to Windsor though because it is not a track that would suit him. I can’t send him anywhere else at this stage so that’s what we have to do.”
On the possibility of his stable star going chasing, Doumen added: “I have no intention of doing so. He’s got potential but he’s too old for that.”
: 9-4 Baracouda, 4-1 Monkerhostin, 5-1 No Refuge, Royal Shakespeare, 8-1 Dancing Bay, 10-1 My Way de Solzen, Westender, 12-1 Blue Canyon, 14-1 Starzaan, 16-1 Sh Boom, 20-1 Mr Cool, Accipter, Hasty Prince, 100-1 Grey Report, Almaravide, 200-1 Nonantais.
