Gold connections confident of Big Hennessy run

Timmy Murphy feels confident of adding to his 1999 Hennessy Gold Cup success on Ever Blessed when he takes the mount of ante-post favourite Celestial Gold in tomorrow’s renewal of the big Newbury handicap.

The Irishman was on board the six-year-old two weeks ago when they took victory in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham, and, if the horse can land the showpiece event, he will complete a rare big-race double that has not been achieved since Bright Highway in 1980.

“It was a great feeling to win in 1999 but I don’t want to settle for just one win in the race and I think I’ve got a great chance on Saturday,” Murphy told teletext.

“I’ve got to know Celestial Gold pretty well now after our Paddy Power win. He’s got a good chance here as the race will be run at a good pace and they say he’s a real stayer. If we get a clear run we should be thereabouts.

Owner David Johnson is also bullish, and believes that the Martin Pipe-trained gelding, who carries just a 6lb penalty, goes into the race with a “favourite’s chance.”

“He has apparently come out of the race very well, extremely well in fact,” said Johnson.

“We left five entries in the race originally, in order to decide nearer the time which would be the most suitable horse to run, and we decided it was him.”

A former point-to-pointer, Celestial Gold was having only his sixth start and was also making his seasonal reappearance, but Johnson hopes that the race will have had a positive effect on him.

“I think that he has come on a bit since Cheltenham, although he is still inexperienced and it is a tough race”, he added.

“There is always the doubt in your mind that it might have taken a lot out of him, as he won well at Towcester on his debut and ran badly at Newbury afterwards.

“But I think he will run a big race, he has a nice weight, and without wanting to sound arrogant, I think he goes there with a favourite’s chance.”

The novice Ollie Magern ran a superb race when a respectable fourth behind Celestial Gold last time, and his trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies reports him to be ready to do battle again

“He is fine,” said the Naunton handler, “We were very pleased with his run at Cheltenham and he will definitely stay, as he has won over three miles before.”

Nil Desperandum has been the gamble of the race in recent days, and has been propelled into second favouritism.

But although Frances Crowley reports him to be “as fit as I can get him”, she is concerned about the horse trying to defy a seven-month absence from the racecourse.

A useful but lightly-raced novice chaser in the early part of last term, the seven-year-old picked up the Grade One Drinmore Chase at Fairyhouse in terrific style exactly a year ago before being ruled out until April from an overreach sustained during that race.

Mrs Crowley would have liked to have got a run into him, but various other problems have conspired against her, and although Nil Desperandum is well-weighted on 10st 8lb, he has not been seen since his last of four to Lord Sam at the Punchestown Festival.

“He is great and he travelled over well yesterday,” said the Curragh-based trainer.

“I would prefer for him to have one under his belt but he is as fit as I can get him, as he is not a stuffy horse and is quite easy to get fit, although he would be better for a run.

“He was in at Gowran in October but he got a stone bruise which stopped him. I then wanted to run him in Down Royal this month for the Champion Chase, but his blood was all wrong.

“However, he is fit and he can give a good account of himself.”

Another live contender is the imposing grey Lord Transcend, who will bid to defy his inexperience when he has just his second start over fences against more battle-hardened rivals in the showpiece handicap.

The seven-year-old ran out a smart 17-length winner at Ayr last November on his chasing bow, but has been sidelined since through injury.

“He is in good form,” said his trainer Howard Johnson.

“His lack of experience is a worry and I couldn’t get him out for a racecourse gallop, but it doesn’t really matter – I have schooled him at home.

“He has always jumped well, though – he jumped a six-bar gate when I first got him. He didn’t respect his hurdles but he does respect his fences and he will be right. The ground will be ideal for him as there is a little bit of juice in it.

Tony Dobbin, who rode him at Ayr, will be back aboard this weekend with Johnson’s stable jockey Graham Lee in action at Newcastle.

“Tony has sat on him once and said that was enough for him,” added the trainer.

Francois Doumen’s veteran First Gold heads the weights on 11st 12lb and aside from making his British handicap debut, is having his first run since April so his trainer is realistic about his chances.

“He works well and is very fresh,” Doumen said.

“He has done a lot of work, but will feel the weight. He is capable of running well, but the reason I ran him in the race is because I wanted to see him run.”