Racecards
14:35 Newbury
Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup Chase (Showcase Handicap) (Class A)
- 21 Runners
- Distance: 3m 2f 110y
- Going: Good
One Knight (IRE)
262- Form 6/13111-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
tracking leaders when fell 1st
- Form 0/1F121-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
in touch, headway and mistake 17th, every chance 4 out, pecked badly 3 out, weakened and pulled up before 3 out
- Form 500/10P-
- Age 9
- Weight 11-3
in rear, ridden 17th, soon no chance
- Form 2021/11-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer R H Alner
- Jockey A Thornton
badly hampered 1st, in touch when fell 3rd
Iznogoud (FR)
168- Form P5U05-0
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer M C Pipe
- Jockey Mr Gordon Elliott
held up, and always towards rear
Arlas (FR)
749- Form 211124/
- Age 8
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer M C Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
in touch to 14th, weakened and pulled up before 16th
Barrow Drive
21- Form 213-F33
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Anthony Mullins
- Jockey J Culloty
held up in touch, led after 17th, ridden and headed next, weakened quickly
- Form 21-11F1
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
held up mid-division, mistake 9th, headway 4 out, led 2 out, clear last, impressive
- Form 13132-4
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer S Treacy
- Jockey J P McNamara
in touch, mistake 10th, lost touch 16th, pulled up before 4 out
- Form 2112-04
- Age 7
- Weight 10-13
prominent until 4 out, soon weakened and pulled up before 2 out
- Form 052U3-2
- Age 8
- Weight 10-10
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey T Doyle
hampered 1st, always behind, pulled up after 15th
- Form 512-U11
- Age 6
- Weight 10-10
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey C Llewellyn
hampered 1st, in touch, behind from 17th, pulled up before 4 out
- Form 4F0P6-3
- Age 9
- Weight 10-9
held up mid-division, progress 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, took 3rd flat, never trouble first two
- Form 25/1110-
- Age 8
- Weight 10-9
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey B J Geraghty
held up, good headway 15th, disputed lead 3 out, headed 2 out, stayed on but not pace of winner
- Form 1121-B4
- Age 8
- Weight 10-6
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey A Ross
behind, hampered 1st, blundered 11th, jumped badly right 14th, weakened 17th, pulled up before 2 out
- Form 11-F121
- Age 7
- Weight 10-5
- Trainer P & M Bowen
- Jockey S Durack
mid-division when brought down 1st
- Form 22310-2
- Age 7
- Weight 10-4
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey D J Casey
held up, headway approaching 17th, disputed lead 3 out, soon ridden and weakened next
- Form 463412/
- Age 7
- Weight 10-4
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey P Hide
always behind and pulled up before 10th
- Form 2422-14
- Age 8
- Weight 10-3
- Trainer C J Mann
- Jockey N D Fehily
behind, ridden and headway 16th, kept on same pace from 3 out
Tom's Prize
20- Form F110-P1
- Age 8
- Weight 10-1
- Trainer J Spearing
- Jockey L P Aspell
led until headed 17th, gradually weakened afterwards
- Form 2116D2
- Age 8
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer M Hourigan
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
close up until ridden and weakened 16th
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
A typically competitive renewal of this long-standing handicap with plenty of the 23 runners holding claims including One Knight, Shardam, Sir Rembrandt and Joss Naylor but the vote goes to Irish Hussar, who is taken to continue Nicky Henderson's good run in big Saturday handicaps. The selection was a progressive performer in novice-company last season and looks to be well treated on his first start in this grade judged by his last two starts when second to La Landiere in the Cathcart at Cheltenham and when beating It Takes Time at Aintree. The son of Supreme Leader will not be inconvenienced by any further rain and is just preferred to Sir Rembrandt. Robert Alner's gelding is still unexposed over fences after just two starts and is potentially out of the top drawer. He looks to have a decent racing weight but an absence from the track is of concern. Top weight One Knight progressed throughout last season, culminating in a hard-fought success in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase, but looks to have plenty on his plate giving weight away all round. The Paul Nicholls-trained Strong Flow won with plenty in hand at Newton Abbot but this represents a much stiffer task for one so inexperienced. Shardam has at least got form in handicaps but this is tougher than the race that he won at Cheltenham last time. More solid claims are probably held by Joss Naylor, who looks well treated on his defeat of Tarxien at Cheltenham in January and goes well when fresh. However, he may want further rain to show his best form. With Henry Daly's stable in such good form Haut Cercy has to be respected but we stick with Irish Hussar and Nicky Henderson.