Kauto Star’s entry gives Hennessy lopsided look
The dual Cheltenham Gold Cup, trained by Paul Nicholls, hero would carry top weight of 11st 12lb should he take his chance, but only two others would run off their correct marks.
Coincidentally they would be two stablemates, Denman (11st 4lb) and Neptune Collonges (10st).
Denman has already won the Hennessy twice, in 2007 and 2009, and no horse has ever been successful three times.
Kauto Star made a successful return to action in the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal on Saturday and his main objective in the first half of the season is the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, which he has won for the last four years.
The Hennessy is one of several items likely to be on he agenda when connections get together at the weekend.
“I may have a talk with Paul on the phone in the meantime, but we are certainly meeting up at the weekend. We’ll have lots to discuss,” said owner Clive Smith.
Meanwhile What A Friend is likely to be Paul Nicholls’ only runner in the Betfair Chase at Haydock Saturday week.
Nicholls has dominated the race since its inception with Kauto Star winning in 2006, 2007 and 12 months ago, when he prevailed by the narrowest of margins over subsequent Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander.
With Nigel Twiston-Davies again targeting the race with his stable star, a thrilling race is in the offing.
“What A Friend is likely to be our only runner in the Betfair Chase. He had a breathing operation over the summer and he looks in good form at the moment,” said Nicholls.
“After Haydock, his main objective of the season will be the Cheltenham Gold Cup. We didn’t aim him at Cheltenham last season because we wanted to give him a bit of time to mature but it is definitely his long-term target this time around.’’
For his part, Twiston-Davies is hoping Imperial Commander will be “even better’’ this season than last.
The nine-year-old handed out a seven-length beating to Denman and the rest at Cheltenham in March and his trainer reports him to be in good shape in the build up to his seasonal reappearance at Haydock.
“He is in great form,’’ Twiston-Davies said yesterday. “I hope he will be even better. He hasn’t had a lot of races so he has got very little miles on the clock and we will keep going.’’
The Betfair Chase was the first of four races that Imperial Commander had last season. He then took in the King George at Kempton en route to his Gold Cup win before unseating jockey Paddy Brennan in Aintree’s Totesport Bowl.
This season, Twiston-Davies is planning a similar campaign, although Aintree will not be on the agenda.
He said: “We know exactly where he is going, which is the Betfair Chase at Haydock, then we will go to the King George at Kempton and the Gold Cup so it will be just the three races in the year.’’
Meanwhile Master Minded may take on Forpadydeplasterer and company in the Sinbad Testimonial 2010/2011 Chase at Cheltenham on Sunday.
Connections of the dual Queen Mother Champion Chase hero have yet to decide whether to give the seven-year-old his seasonal debut this weekend or wait for the Amlin 1965 Chase at Ascot the following Saturday.
“Master Minded worked well today, so I think we’ll see how the weather is,” said owner Clive Smith.
“We don’t mind the rain and it just depends how it all is if we are going to run. We’ll see.
“Ascot was the main aim, but Paul came up with this because ground conditions might be very favourable to him for Sunday if we do get there.”
