Air Force flying ahead of Hennessy
A Grade One-winning novice at the Punchestown Festival, the German-bred returned with a solid display behind Roll Along at Ascot on November 1, for which the handicapper has reacted by raising him only 3lb.
“He’s in the form of his life,” said Mann.
“There was always a question of whether we went to Ascot or the Badger Beer at Wincanton but it’s worked out really well.
“I am happy with what the handicapper has done and the Hennessy has always been the number one target for him.”
John Quinn’s Character Building ran a stormer 12 months ago to finish third to subsequent Gold Cup winner Denman but injury kept him off the track for the rest of the season.
He returned to action with a win over hurdles though and is currently pleasing the Malton-based handler.
“He came out of his run at Towcester in cracking form and is very much on target,” said Quinn.
“The Hennessy is a great race and the one that everyone wants to win. We are expecting another big run from him this year.”
One who will not be lining up, however, is Nigel Twiston-Davies’ impressive Paddy Power Gold winner Imperial Commander.
“We’ve taken him out of the Hennessy and he’ll instead go for the Boylesports,” said Twiston-Davies.
“We thought, what with him having been off for a year, that it makes sense to give him another couple of weeks.
“He would have had a 5lb penalty in the Hennessy and has gone up 13lb in the weights.
“But hopefully that will be negated by him having another couple of weeks to recover.”
The in-form trainer does still have Knowhere and Battlecry engaged.
The ante-post favourite for some time has been Paul Nicholls’ Big Buck’s, and his owner Andy Stewart has confirmed Sam Thomas will be on board.
“Sam Thomas will ride Big Buck’s in the Hennessy and he has done fantastically over the summer,” said Stewart.
“When we brought him back, we thought about a hurdle race to protect his handicap mark for the Hennessy.
“But the reason he hasn’t run is that there has been no race for him.
“The approach has always been the Hennessy after Liverpool.
“He is a young horse who beat Battlecry and Albertas Run at Aintree last season.
“The great thing about Newbury is that it is a flat track and he’ll be able to get into a pace.
“He’s not a Denman, but he’ll be fine.”
Irish handler Tony Martin has two possibles in Royal County Star and Patsy Hall.
“Both have been left in and they will work at the weekend and then we’ll see next Monday,” said Martin.
Paddy Power spokesman, Paddy Power, added: “Paul Nicholls has ridden and trained two Hennessy winners and Big Buck’s was well-backed at 5s.
“It’s about time the Irish won this race, though, especially after Be My Royal’s disqualification in 2002.
“Tony could be the man for the job.”
Hennessy Gold Cup
Paddy Power bet: 9-2 Big Buck’s, 13-2 Air Force One, 7-1 Character Building, 8-1 Oedipe, 12-1 Dear Villez, Albertas Run, 14-1 Royal County Star, Battlecry, High Chimes, Slim Pickings, 16-1 Knowhere, Parsons Legacy, Island Flyer, Ornais, 20-1 Snoopy Loopy, State Of Play, Madison Du Berlais, Patsy Hall, New Alco, 25-1 bar.
