Bounce Back heads Hennessy betting
Martin Pipe’s Bounce Back heads the ante-post betting for the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury on November 30.
The six-year-old won the attheraces Gold Cup at Sandown on his final start last season and he has been given 10st 8lb for the extended three mile and two furlong contest.
Bacchanal has been handed top weight of 11st 12lb, 2lb more than Foxchapel King who is next on the list with 11st 10lb.
Henrietta Knight’s Lord Noelie (11st 9lb), Martin Pipe’s Shooting Light (11st 8lb), Philp Hobbs’ What’s Up Boys and Henry Daly’s Behrajan (both 11st 7lb) are at the top end of the weights.
Last Saturday’s Charlie Hall Chase winner, the Sir Robert Ogden-owned Marlborough, has been allotted 11st 6lb, while same owner’s Kingsmark (11st 4lb) and Ad Hoc (10st 6lb) are also in the line-up.
Although Ogden has those three possible runners, his racing manager Barry Simpson said: “I suppose a lot depends upon what’s going to run at the top. My knee-jerk reaction would be that if the ground was heavy and he was not top weight, Kingsmark might run.
“A race like the Edward Hanmer (Memorial Chase at Haydock on November 17) would be more for him though and he won’t run in both, so I think you’ll get an indication if he runs in the Hanmer.”
Marlborough is another whose participation would be dependent on the ground and Ogden added: “If the ground was fast or good the weight wouldn’t be a problem but if it was heavy we would not even consider running him.
“If Ad Hoc was on 10st 6lb, then the race would be a possibility but we haven’t really decided what kind of course to take with him.
“It is something that will have to be discussed with Sir Robert and the trainers in due course. Plans are fluid at the moment and it’s a bit too far in the future to say.”
Other notable contenders include Hughie Morrison’s Frenchman’s Creek, an impressive winner at the Cheltenham Festival last season, who has 10st 9lb.
Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Martell Grand National winner Bindaree has 10st 8lb, along with the Pipe trio of Iznogoud, Bounce Back and Take Control.
