Hennessy gamble on Rembrandt

Sir Rembrandt was today the subject of a massive gamble for the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup on Saturday despite not having raced for 11 months.

Bookmakers Coral have halved the price of Robert Alner’s charge to 8-1 from 16-1 for the Newbury showpiece.

“Punters were keen to back this horse at all prices from 16-1 down to 8-1, so a big run on Saturday is clearly expected,” said Coral’s David Stevens.

Strong Flow heads the betting for the Hennessy with Ladbrokes but the Harrow firm also reported money for Sir Rembrandt.

“The seven year-old was as big as 14-1 two days ago but we now go 9-1 following the confirmation stage,” said Balthazar Fabricius of Ladbrokes.

Bet365 and Paddy Power both go 8-1 from 14-1 Sir Rembrandt.

Andrew Thornton looks set to ride course specialist Sir Rembrandt even if Swansea Bay, on whom the jockey has forged a great partnership this season, takes his chance in the Hennessy.

Sir Rembrandt, a winner over hurdles and fences at the Berkshire course, pleased Thornton in some work last week and the jockey said: “He gave me a very good feel and as long as the ground is good or softer I’m sure it will be fine for him.

“He loves Newbury and he’s comfortable racing in a big field.”

Sir Rembrandt has not raced since beating It Takes Time at Cheltenham last December after reportedly suffering a leg injury in January.

The weights are due to go up 11lb following the defection of Keen Leader at today’s confirmation stage.

Jonjo O’Neill’s seven-year-old topped the handicap after the first forfeit but that honour now lies with the Philip Hobbs-trained One Knight.

O’Neill could now rely on Sudden Shock and Joss Naylor.

One Knight, who beat Best Mate’s conqueror Jair Du Cochet in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, is reported on course for the Hennessy despite the prospect of shouldering 11st 12lb.

A total of 29 horses remain in the £110,000 (€158,360) contest including Paul Nicholls’ exciting prospect Strong Flow and Peter Bowen’s in-form chaser Swansea Bay, winner of his last four starts.

A decision on Strong Flow’s participation will be left until Friday morning Nicholls said today.

The six-year-old has also been put in the Hennessy Festival Weekend Novices’ Chase, which has been reopened after only nine entries were received, the following afternoon.

Peter Bowen has yet to confirm Swansea Bay in the line up.

He said: “I’m keeping an open mind about Saturday. If the ground is good he will run and he’ll run if there are soft patches but if it gets testing he won’t be going.”

With his 6lb penalty for his victory in the Edward Hanmer Memorial Chase at Haydock Park earlier this month Swansea Bay will also have to carry 11st 12lb.

The Haverfordwest trainer intends running Take The Stand, who sneaks into the bottom of the handicap.

“Take The Stand will have an each-way chance,” Bowen told attheraces. “He’s in very good form and has a very light weight as well.”

Nigel Twiston-Davies was delighted to hear that the weights are to go up.

The trainer runs Shardam on Saturday, and his six-year-old, who will shoulder a 6lb penalty for a recent success at Cheltenham, where he made all the running to trounce a competitive field of seasoned handicappers, is set to race off 10st 10lb.

Twiston-Davies said: “That’s brilliant. It puts him in the handicap now which is good. He did brilliantly at Cheltenham and he’s been in very good form since.”

He also confirmed Carl Llewellyn as Shardam’s Hennessy jockey.

Irish trainer Willie Mullins, who won the Hennessy 12 months ago with Be My Royal, is due to saddle Hedgehunter this time.

Hedgehunter has not run since finishing second at the Punchestown Festival in April.

The seven-year-old achieved his most important success to date in the Grand National Trial Handicap Chase at the same track in February.

The following month he was challenging strongly when he blundered badly and virtually came to a standstill two out in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham and has recently been well supported in ante-post lists.

Martin Pipe has won the Hennessy in the past with Strands Of Gold (1988) and Chatam (1991) and the champion trainer has six entries left in the race headed by Stormez, runner-up to Shardam at Cheltenham last time.

His other potential contenders are Royal Predica, Iznogoud, Arlas, Bounce Back and Take Control.

The participation of Nicky Henderson’s leading fancy Irish Hussar hinges on there being some cut in the ground on Saturday.

Connections of Irish challengers Barrow Drive and The Premier Cat would also like more rain at Newbury.

But the former’s trainer Tony Mullins warned: “We won’t go unless it is at least yielding and preferably soft.”

However, The Premier Cat, who finished a promising fourth behind Edredon Bleu at Clonmel last week, was confirmed on course for the race by trainer Tom Cahill.

He said: “The Premier Cat is a definite runner. We just want more rain.

“We’ve been thinking about the Hennessy since he won at Navan last winter and he should come on a good bit for his run at Clonmel.

“Shay Barry is riding for us again.”

The going at Newbury is currently described as good.

Clerk of the course Richard Osgood said: “The ground is still good.

“We’ve got some more raining coming in tomorrow night – we could get as much as 15 to 20 millimetres – and then a changeable week.

“Over the weekend we had 34 millimetres but the course is still taking it because we’ve had such a lack of water.”