Hennessy bid likely for Snowy Morning

Willie Mullins has his sights set on a crack at the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury on Saturday week with Snowy Morning.

Runner-up to Denman in the SunAlliance Chase at Cheltenham in March, the seven-year-old has won three of his six starts over fences.

Not seen since finishing fourth to Offshore Account at Punchestown in April, Snowy Morning has been allotted 9st 4lb in the big handicap, although the weights look set to rise considerably as Kauto Star and, next in the list, Exotic Dancer are both intended runners at Haydock in the Betfair Chase.

Mullins said: “He is in good form and I am happy with the horse.

“The aim is to get him to the Hennessy but he might not get in – it depends on what happens with the top weight (Kauto Star), but that is where we are planning on going.”