Attrition given Hennessy green light Former Cheltenham Gold Cup hero War Of Attrition has been given the go-ahead to run in Saturday's Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury. It will be the first time the 10-year-old has crossed the Irish Sea since he lifted chasing's blue riband in March 2006. With Denman, the 2007 Hennessy and 2008 Gold Cup winner, due to carry top weight of 11st 12lb, War Of Attrition will have just 10st 6lb on his back. Owned by Gigginstown House Stud, he has pleased his trainer Mouse Morris since finishing third to The Listener in the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal earlier this month. "He'll run and he seems fine. It's some weight he's got for a Gold Cup winner whichever way you look at it," said trainer Mouse Morris. "He's come on nicely from Down Royal." His expected participation means that Siegemaster, who carries the same colours, is now unlikely to take his chance. "The owners want to run War of Attrition, so he possibly won't go now," said Siegemaster's trainer Dessie Hughes. "I'll probably run him in a handicap chase over Christmas instead. "He's not really rated high enough to run in those Graded races like the Lexus Chase. He's in the 140s and needs to be higher."
