Nicholls happy with Big Buck’s
The Ditcheat trainer is the only person to ride and saddle two winners of Newbury’s prestigious handicap chase.
He took the prize for a second time as a trainer 12 months ago when subsequent Gold Cup hero Denman showed his class.
Nicholls believes he has at least two good chances with Big Buck’s and Dear Villez.
“The Hennessy Gold Cup has always been the target for Big Buck’s since the end of last season,” he said.
“He is in good health and would have a leading chance on Saturday on last season’s form, but as always it is a very competitive looking race.
“I also think that Dear Villez will run very well.
“He won the Munster National earlier this season at Limerick and he will love the ground and is a course winner.”
Nicholls also has Ornais and My Will among 21 horses to have stood their ground at the five-day confirmation stage.
Ornais is set to be one of three now topping the handicap on 11st 12lb after Exotic Dancer’s withdrawal resulted in a 16lb hike in the weights.
Knowhere and shock Betfair Chase winner Snoopy Loopy are the other two.
Ornais and Snoopy Loopy should carry 6lb penalties for recent successes but as the maximum weight is 11st 12lb, they are only burdened with 4lb and 1lb extra respectively.
Jonjo O’Neill has yet to lift the Hennessy as either a jockey or a trainer but expects Albertas Run to put up a good show – despite a disappointing performance at Carlisle on his reappearance.
“I would say the ground was the main thing at Carlisle as he came back fine and we would like it to dry up a little bit before the weekend to be honest,” said the Jackdaws Castle handler.
“He has won on soft but it was really sloppy and he is a good-ground horse, he can’t handle it when it’s tacky.
“The ground at Carlisle was bottomless on him and I’m hoping that’s all it was as we can’t find anything wrong with him.
“He’s in great form at home and is working well so we will go to Newbury with confidence.”
Charlie Mann is also playing up Air Force One’s chances.
“He is in the form of his life at the moment and the Hennessy has always been the target for him,” said the Lambourn trainer.
“His preparation has gone well so we will see.”
Evan Williams tasted Hennessy success with State Of Play in 2006 and warned punters it would be dangerous to write off the chances of this year’s representative, High Chimes.
The nine-year-old won the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup at the Cheltenham Festival.
“Fingers crossed, High Chimes goes there in good form and I’m not really concerned about the ground,” said Williams.
“I’d like to see some rain to make it a thorough test of stamina but they will go a million miles an hour in the Hennessy, no matter what the ground is.
“There are obviously some fancied horses in the race as there always is, but our horse is OK.”
Slim Pickings heads a three-strong Irish challenge.
Last year’s Grand National third could be joined in the race by Tony Martin’s pair of Royal County Star and Patsy Hall.
