Comply Or Die has Hennessy option

Grand National winner Comply Or Die has the option of kicking off his season in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury on November 28.

David Pipe’s nine-year-old wrote his name into the history books last April when he was given a perfect ride by Timmy Murphy and he may make his reappearance in the historic race.

Pipe also has Dom d’Orgeval and Madison du Berlais engaged in the three-and-a-quarter mile test, won last year by subsequent Gold Cup hero Denman.

While Paul Nicholls’ Gold Cup winner is absent this year, the Ditcheat handler still has a strong squad to choose from with the likes of Big Bucks, Dear Villez, Gungadu, Star de Mohaison and Turko among his entries.

Second-season novices have a decent record in the race and Albertas Run, Air Force One, Battlecry, Roll Along and Mr Strachan all fall into that category as possibles who could improve that statistic.

A total of 54 entries were received with Exotic Dancer, Don’t Push It, Character Building, Halcon Genelardais and Oedipe other notable possibles.

Afistfullofdollars, A New Story, Bother Na, Mister Top Notch, Patsy Hall and Royal County Star are the Irish challengers.

Charlie Egerton’s Darkness, absent since finishing third behind Star de Mohaison in the 2006 Royal & SunAlliance Chase, also holds an entry.