Nicholls duo on song for Hennessy bid

A fascinating renewal of the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup looks in store after all the main players stood their ground for tomorrow`s Newbury showpiece.

The overnight withdrawal of the Martin Pipe-trained Shooting Light and Blanville means a total of 14 horses will go to post for the £100,000 event.

Paul Nicholls` Montifault has been at the head of ante-post lists since betting on the contest began, while Pipe`s Take Control, the mount of Tony McCoy, has been the subject of sustained support in recent weeks.

But, though Montifault remains favourite with Coral, he has been eased to 3-1 from 5-2 with the same firm trimming Take Control to 7-2 from 4-1.

Nicholls also has Ad Hoc in the £100,000 feature and he said of his pair: 'Montifault has 10st which is a big help but 11st 2lbs isn`t a massive weight for Ad Hoc.

'Both are in good order and it`s a great race, which it should be - I`m looking forward to it.'

Asked whether Montifault could be a Gold Cup horse Nicholls said: 'At the start of the season I thought the Welsh National would be the race for him but he is still only six and still improving.

'If you were doing the entries for the Gold Cup today you would put both of them him but time will tell.'

Another to have been well-backed in recent days is Barry Murtagh`s Grey Abbey, winner of five chases to date, and whose success over Hugo De Grez last time was well advertised by that horses success at Carlisle yesterday.

'When he won the Future Champion (at Ayr in April), obviously you start thinking of him then as a good horse,' Murtagh told the Racing Channel.

'We said then his early-season target would be the Hennessy depending on how he got on in his first couple of runs.'

Grey Abbey loves to bowl along in front but Murtagh added that he will leave tactics to jockey Brian Harding.

'He`ll pop off and do his thing but basically that is up to Brian - he knows the horse inside out,' he said.

'I didn`t back him when he started chasing so I`m not backing him now m but one or two of the lads are on.

'He will run a big race because he`s that type of horse. He`s honest and loves galloping, loves racing.'

Going at the Berkshire track is now good to soft with some further rain forecast.

'We`ve had some drizzle today and obviously the ground has opened up a bit with the racing,' said clerk of the course Richard Osgood.

'We`re forecast around five or six millimetres of rain tonight and then for it to be bright, sunny and very windy tomorrow.'

Adrian Maguire is certainly hoping for a wet night before teaming up with Charlie Hall Chase fifth Streamstown, for whose trainer Ferdy Murphy he won the race on Sibton Abbey nine years ago.

'He has come on nicely for his run in the Charlie Hall,' the jockey said.

'He is off a nice weight and it is a very open Hennessy, you can make a case for lots of the runners.

'We are praying for rain. The more rain we get the more it will improve his chance.'

Murphy also saddles Hindiana and reports both to be in 'cracking order' for the big race.

Philip Hobbs saddles What`s Up Boys, who has been off the track since finishing second to Ad Hoc in the Whitbread at Sandown in April.

'We were going to get him ready for the Edward Hanmer but he had a little problem,' his jockey Paul Flynn told the Racing Channel.

'He`s fine now and I wouldn`t be worried about his fitness - he`s been up and down the gallops a few times.

'I think he has got a good chance. Montifault is well-in but is definitely beatable - I don`t know how great a race the Badger Beer was this year.'

Henrietta Knight will be double-handed after declaring both Lord Noelie and Hati Roy.

Richard Guest will partner top-weight Lord Noelie - who was going well behind Sackville before falling in the Charlie Hall Chase - after Jim Culloty broke his arm ina fall at Taunton yesterday.

'They`re both very well but we wouldn`t want to see too much overnight rain,' said Miss Knight. 'It`s a real shame for Jim but we`re very happy to have Richard. He came down this morning to school him.

Hati Roy powered up the hill at Cheltenham to deny Beau in a thrilling finish on her latest outing and Andrew Thornton takes the ride.

'Hati Roy did so well at Cheltenham that she deserves to have a go but the Hennessy is always a hot race - we got there with an outside chance, I would say,' the trainer added.

Ireland will be represented by Ted Walsh`s Commanche Court, who is due to be ridden by the trainer`s son Ruby.

Nigel Twiston-Davies sent out King`s Road to victory last season and will be represented this time around by Frantic Tan and Bindaree.

The field is completed by the Venetia Williams-trained Welsh National winner Jocks Cross, and Henry Daly`s Behrajan.

Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup betting:

William Hill: 5-2 Montifault, 7-2 Take Control, 7-1 Ad Hoc, Behrajan, 10-1 Grey Abbey, 12-1 Streamstown, What`s Up Boys, 16-1 Commanche Court, 18-1 Hati Roy, 22-1 Bindaree, 25-1 Hindiana, 28-1 Lord Noelie, 33-1 Frantic Tan, Jocks Cross.

Coral: 3-1 Montifault, 7-2 Take Control, 6-1 Ad Hoc, 8-1 Behrajan, 10-1 Grey Abbey, What`s Up Boys, 11-1 Streamstown, 14-1 Commanche Court, 20-1 Hindiana, Hati Roy, Bindaree, 25-1 Lord Noelie, 28-1 Jocks Cross, 33-1 Frantic Tan.