Trainer Alan King pleased with Smad Place workout at Newbury

Alan King believes Smad Place could develop into a Cheltenham Gold Cup horse in time as he gears up for his seasonal return in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury.

The seven-year-old was last seen when finishing second, beaten just a neck, in the RSA Chase at the Festival last March and he is among the leading lights for the Newbury feature on Saturday week.

Smad Place, who is set to carry 11st 6lb in the Grade Three event, engaged in some light work at the Berkshire venue on Tuesday morning, enjoying a canter with stablemate and fellow Hennessy hopeful Midnight Prayer.

King expects Smad Place to go well off his BHA mark of 155.

He said: "If I've got a horse that could run in a Gold Cup, it has to be Smad Place. I feel he has strengthened up a lot this season and given the impression that there could well be more improvement to come.

"He did everything but win (at the Festival) last season and was just run out of it at the line.

"Competing off his current mark, he would need to run well to earn a place in any Gold Cup field, but if we have a Gold Cup horse in the yard, he is the one.

"He's been placed on each of the three occasions he's been to the Festival.

"Off a mark of 155, he should go well. Wayne (Hutchinson) will probably ride."

King was a man to follow at the 2013 Hennessy Festival, netting three successes, and he could have a capable second string in Midnight Prayer, who was last seen winning the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham in March.

The Barbury Castle handler said: "Midnight Prayer often leads in his work at home and won over four miles so stamina is not an issue.

"He cantered a mile and six (furlongs) with Smad Place and they just breezed along. Neither had a hard blow when they came back.

"I think he's on a workable mark (141). He was very fresh and full of himself when he came off the lorry this morning.

"Bringing them here gets the adrenalin going and gives them something to think about on an away day."

Oliver Sherwood elected not to take Many Clouds to work at Newbury, explaining that the Trevor Hemmings-owned gelding had "done enough" in his comeback race at Carlisle, and would now complete his Hennessy preparation at home.

Sherwood said: "He's just coming back from his Carlisle exertions and it wouldn't have been right to bring him here to work because I have him just where I want him.

"Carlisle and Towcester are the two stiffest tracks in the country and when we went to Carlisle I thought we might struggle to beat Eduard. I got that bit wrong and was really pleased with our fella, who has grown into a man and was just a teenager last year."

Many Clouds was put up 7lb for his success in Cumbria but Sherwood still expects him to be competitive off his revised mark.

He said: "I still think he's capable of winning a decent race off his new mark. If you take his run in the Reynoldstown at face value we would have had to be knocking on the door in the RSA Chase.

"It's bad luck for Rebecca (Curtis) that she lost her winner of the race (O'Faolains Boy), but the form is there for all to see.

"I always thought he was a Hennessy horse because years ago there was a spate of second-season novices that came here and won the race.

"I think my horse has improved both physically and mentally and sometimes you find the handicapper hasn't caught up with this type of horse."

Sherwood expects Smad Place to run a big race for King while also giving favourable mention to any challengers from the in-form Philip Hobbs yard.

He added: "I respect Kingy's horse (Smad Place), while anything Hobbsy brings you would have to take seriously. He could win with the yard cat right now!

"My job in the next week and a half is to make sure we get him here in one piece. Then it's up to Leighton Aspell and the horse to get the job done."