The Hennessy Gold Cup could be very interesting this year as last years Gold Cup winner Coneygree is due to run (currently Don Cossack heads the weights but is unlikely to run and the weights would be raised 3lb), this would mean that some very smart horses would be carrying much lower weights than they would normally in handicaps such as last years RSA Chase winner Don Poli 11-3, 2013 Hennessy Gold Cup runner up Rocky Creek 11-00, 2014 Hennessy Gold Cup runner up Houblon Des Obeaux 10-10, twice placed in Cheltenham Gold Cup The Giant Bolster 10-10, unbeaten for Willie Mullins Mare Vroum Vroum Mag 10-5, 2012 Hennessy Gold Cup and 2012 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Bobs Worth 10-7 and 2013 Hennessy Gold Cup winner Triolo D’Alene 10-7.

Should Coneygree then he is very likely to run in his usual style of blasting out front and trying to run everything into submission similar to how he won the Cheltenham Gold Cup last year and this would really test his ability as he would be giving away a lot of weight to some very smart horses. From what he has shown so far though this could be very much in his capabilities and win in this race would surely make him a short priced favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup again. Having won effortlessly at Sandown last weekend he should be fit for this race and he should make the race a great spectacle.
With Coneygree setting this strong pace it may be worth looking at horses that are strong staying sorts and one such horse is Don Poli (although unclear if he will take his chance). He was a very impressive winner of the RSA Chase last year and isn’t that far behind Coneygree in the betting for Cheltenham Gold Cup this year. In the RSA Chase King’s Palace set a very strong pace and despite coming off the bridle earlier than some of his rivals, Don Poli responded well and the further they went the better he looked. A strong staying horse he could well be finishing his race off well whilst plenty of others will be floundering.

Houblon Des Obeaux has to be respected in this race having tried giving weight away to all last year in this race when finishing 2nd to subsequent Grand National winner Many Clouds. Also in the race were The Druids Nephew and Djakadam with the former winning a handicap at the Cheltenham Festival whilst the latter finished 2nd to Coneygree in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. The likes of Rocky Creek, Fingal Bay, Le Reve and Triolo D’Alene were also in the race and they all pulled up. Hitting the front last year 2 from the finish he looked to have made a race winning move but was outstayed by the well handicapped and stayer in the making Many Clouds. He ran wide throughout that day and probably cost him a few lengths. Whilst many of his rivals have risen significantly in the weights from that day, Houblon De Obeaux will be running off an official mark of just 2lb higher but won’t be lugging around the big weights. His trainer Venetia Williams is also in great form including having a double already today.

Bobs Worth bounced back to form last time out at Aintree when winning the Betfred Hurdle beating the returning Simonsig. Jumping out and making the pace he dug in late on over a distance that wouldn’t have been ideal and outstayed Simonsig. The pair pulled clear of a decent horse in Purple Bay so we think this was a very good run. Having won this race back in 2012 off a mark of 160 he went on the win the Cheltenham Gold Cup on his next start beating Sir Des Champs and Long Run in a strong renewal of the race. This year he has been allocated a mark of just 150 and with the fitness run now under his belt if he can improve again for going back over fences then he could be very well handicapped. A real stayer, he always finished his races off well when in his prime and the race could be run to suit with Coneygree in the race.

It should be a great race and we could well see a fantastic weight carrying performance by Coneygree and should he be able to win this then even after just 6 runs over fences he would have to be regarded as one of the best chasers of all time and the Cheltenham Gold Cup really is there for the taking.