Djakadam Leads Ante-Post Betting For Hennessey Gold Cup

There`s still 23 entries in the running to line up for the Hennessey Gold Cup at Newbury on Saturday (29th November), with the ante-post betting being headed by Willie Mullins` Djakadam. The five year old is best-priced 9/2 (Spreadex) favourite for the three-and-a-quarter mile marathon.

An appearance in the Hennessey will be the first outing of the season for Djakadam, who was last season falling over the fourth last when handy in the JLT Novices Chase at Cheltenham. His Festival fall was only his second ride in England and connections will be heading to Newbury knowing that no horse has ever won its feature race at such young an age.

Ruby Walsh, who is expected to take the ride on the favourite, does not see the horse`s age as being something the punters should be concerned about. Indeed, the Irishman took to his paddy Power blog to remind potential doubters about his Champion Chase victory aboard Master Minded.

`The Pundits are saying that Djakadam can`t win the Hennessey Gold Cup on Saturday because he`s only a five-year-old.` The two-time Hennessey winning jockey told the bookmakers.

`They said Master Minded couldn`t win a Champion Chase when he was that age. He did - so the stats are there to be broken.`

Something that Walsh does consider to be a `worry` however, is that the horse has only ever run three times over fences, dispatching Paul Townend last time out.

`A bigger worry for me is that he has just three runs over fences and is inexperienced for a race like this.` Djakadam was first across the line in his previous two starts over fences. He justified favouritism in a two-and-a-half mile chase at Leopardstown before doing the same over 21 furlongs. Currently occupying joint-second favourite position are Alan King`s Smad Place and Oliver Sherwood`s Many Clouds. Both horses can be backed at 7/1 with most bookmakers.

Smad Place is a two-time Newbury winner having picked up a juvenile hurdle as a three year old before grabbing a victory in a chase in the February of this year. The Newbury Chase triumph was the second of a pair of victories over three miles, the first coming at Exeter where he was odds-on favourite.

King`s runner was second to O`faolains Boy by a neck in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham last time out and will be looking to sustain this form to achieve only his second class one win. Smad Place will be ridden by a different rider after the horse`s usual jockey, Wayne Hutchinson, sustained a knee injury.

Many Clouds was first past the post in two-and-a-half mile chase around Carlisle oh his last outing at the beginning of the month and has proved himself time and again over bottomless ground. For this reason stamina should not be a problem despite the fact that the horse is yet to win over a distance further than 20 furlongs.

Last year`s winner Trio D`Arlene is available at 25/1 after his trainer Nicky Henderson told the press that he was worried about the form of his stable going into the big race meeting.

`When it is going right, it is so easy any clown can do this game. When it is not, that is when you have to keep your head.` The Daily Mail reports.

Henderson also has Hadrian`s Approach entered for the Hennessey, the horse having claimed the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown back in April. The seven year old is best-priced 20/1 with 32red, 888sport, paddy Power and unibet.

In contrast, the in-form Paul Nicholls` is expected to run last year`s second Rocky Creek following the trainer`s capturing of the paddy power Gold Cup, the betfair Chase and the Amlin 1965. The Grand National fifth is 10/1 (ladbrokes, Titanbet) to take Saturday`s feature.

Pertemps victor Fingal Bay (8/1 - Numerous) and Neil Mulholland`s The Druid`s Nephew (14/1 - Numerous) are also expected to be big players.

Go To bet365

#Ad

26/11/2014     © Frixo 2024