Denman Tops Hennessy Field

Denman will face 17 rivals in tomorrow's Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury.

Paul Nicholls' imposing seven-year-old will have to shoulder 11st 12lb as he bids to emulate Trabolgan, who won under top weight in 2005.

Juveigneur, who represents Trabolgan's trainer Nicky Henderson and owner Trevor Hemmings, is next on the list and will bid to go one better than last year when he chased home State Of Play.

David Pipe is triple-handed in his bid to land a first Hennessy, a race his father, Martin, won three times.

Badger Ales Trophy winner Abragante, the mount of Davy Russell, will lead the charge while Dom D'Orgeval will be partnered by last year's winning rider Paul Moloney and rising star Paddy Merrigan will be aboard Madison Du Berlais.

The Irish challenge is headed by Willie Mullins' Snowy Morning, who finished second to Denman in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at last season's Cheltenham Festival.

Dessie Hughes runs 2003 winner Strong Flow while Tony Martin also lets Patsy Hall take his chance. Irish National winner Point Barrow is also in the line-up.

Ferdy Murphy, fresh from the big-race success of L'Antartique, relies on New Alco and John Quinn sends Character Building from the north.

Knowhere, third in the Paddy Power for Nigel Twiston-Davies, steps up to three miles and two furlongs while recent Cheltenham winner Sir Rembrandt, Always Waining, Dream Alliance, D'Argent, Bible Lord and Bowleaze complete the line-up.

John Quinn reports Character Building to be ready to do himself justice, even though it will be his first race since being pulled up in the Scottish National seven months ago.

'He's fit enough and he's in good nick. It's a tough race, but we'll see how we go,' said the North Yorkshire trainer.

Sam Thomas will be bidding for further big-race glory as he partners Denman in the Grade Three feature.

The rider struck aboard both Kauto Star and Mr Pointment in the feature events last weekend and he is looking forward to renewing his partnership with Denman, on whom he won at this meeting last year.

'It will definitely make a difference having sat on him before in a race so he is not a complete stranger to me,' said Thomas.

'I've schooled him before and ridden him at home a lot too and I know pretty much all there is to know about him.

'It's going to be a good gallop tomorrow as it always is in the Hennessy, which will suit him.

'But as everybody has already said, it is going to be a really tough ask. It is a hard enough race to win at the best of times but to do it first time out will be even more difficult.

'Saying that, he could just be the horse to go and do something like that first time out, and if he does he would have to be a Gold Cup contender.

'He's been in long enough and has done lots of work but he is such a big horse that he needs it and as Paul keeps saying, he will improve for the run and we can do no more with him at home. He is ready to rock and roll now.

'His best performance last year came in his toughest race, he is that type of horse. The more you ask him the more he will give.'

Mick Fitzgerald believes last year's runner-up Juveigneur is capable of running a big race but expects him to find it even tougher this time.

'I'm optimistic and hopeful,' he said. 'But the horse couldn't win a Hennessy off a 10lb lower rating last year and he is 10lb higher this year in a better quality race so he's hardly handicapped to win.

'That is not saying he can't win. He ran very well for a long way in ground he would not have liked last time over hurdles.

'I think last year's novices, the unexposed horses, come right into it, but a horse like Juveigneur knows his way around there,' he told At The Races.

(C) PA Sport