Henderson’s heavy ground worry for Bob
The trainer was inspecting the Berkshire track on yesterday afternoon as he is worried about potentially heavy ground and wanted time to mull over his thoughts.
A dual Cheltenham Festival winner, Bobs Worth has not been seen since beating First Lieutenant in the RSA Chase last March.
“We’re nervous about it (the ground) and I can’t just make a decision,” he said.
“I’d have to say there’s an element of doubt and I’ll walk the course in the afternoon and then talk to the owners.
“The gallops here are as soft as I’ve ever seen, but he has been very happy up the grass and worked today.
“Newbury was the obvious place to go, so we’ll have to see. After that, there’s only the intermediate chase at Sandown next week, but I don’t want to run him right-handed.
“He won’t go for the King George, but I will make an entry for the Lexus over Christmas, as they do sometimes get decent ground at Leopardstown.”
Henderson’s other Hennessy entry, the Irish recruit and recent Ascot winner Roberto Goldback, will not be running.
“The handicapper decided to put him up 13lb for Ascot, when all that happened was that it was his first run on decent ground,” he said. “I’m inclined to run him in the two-and-a-half-mile race at Newbury on the Friday (Sportingbet Open Handicap Chase).
Jamie Moore expects Fruity O'Rooney to be up for a good run on Saturday but believes he faces a tough task.
Moore rides the nine-year-old for his father Gary and the jockey feels Fruity O’Rooney has come on for his recent reappearance over hurdles at Cheltenham.
“He had a spin round over hurdles and ran well for a long way. The handicapper was a bit harsh. He hadn’t won off a mark that high over hurdles,” he told At The Races.
“He whacked him up to his chase mark over hurdles and humped 11st 12lb for his first run of the season. It found him out and he’s only small.
“He’s in great form at the minute and his work’s been good. He’ll be spot on for Newbury and 10st 5lb is a great weight to have in a competitive handicap run on testing ground.
“Whether he’s quite good enough, he might not be but he’ll give a good, bold show from the front. He wears his heart on his sleeve.
“He’ll go on soft ground and the three-miles-two doesn’t worry me.
“When he was second at the Festival it was over three miles and I went pretty hard.
“Up at Ayr it was four miles and it was his last run of the year.
“Maybe I went too quick, but a stamina test definitely suits him.
“It’s going to be an open race. It’s not going to be easy, we’re pretty exposed and there could be something lurking.
“Bobs Worth could be decent and there are others like Roberto Goldback, but we’ll give it our best shot.”
