2012 Hennessy Gold Cup Chase Part 1

The Hennessy Gold Cup Chase is always one of the most widely-anticipated Grade 3 contests of the season. This massive handicap attracts some of the most intriguing fields you’ll find anywhere and there’s a lot to like about this year’s edition of the famous Newbury race. 

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A full 22 entrants are still declared a few days prior to the pre-entry stage and there are some very big names about to contest this race. 

At the top end of the weights we’ve got the well-respected Tidal bay, who won his seasonal debut at Wetherby, a middling contest for 18K, against a relatively short field. Ruby Walsh was back in the irons and looked like he didn’t miss a beat with Tidal Bay now back to a 160 OR. We all know that he doesn’t have any problems with the distance and he usually likes to step up another gear over the last 2 or 3 fences - expect a similar performance here to what he pulled off in the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown - a race he won by 15 lengths. 

Bobs Worth is a Cheltenham winner, capturing the RSA Chase when sent off at 9/2. He has been punching above his weight a bit when switching over to the Chase circuit and successfully tangling with Cue Card in his first race. It took him three more tries before he found the winners circle again, but you reckon his connections didn’t mind scooping a Cheltenham victory. He’s shown the ability to win on his seasonal debut and, though this one is seeing him come in at the deep end early, he is getting a fair amount of buzz from the Ten to Follow crowd as well with many backing him to take a serious step forward. 

Roberto Goldback got things off to a very good start after winning at Ascot back at the start of the month in a Grade 3 contest. He hadn’t won since a Listed effort at Cork back in April of 2011 - a full 10 races between the two victories. He had been running against high level handicappers in Ireland and didn’t really look to be comfortable at this level prior to winning that race on his seasonal debut this year. 

First Lieutenant hasn’t really won in a while but he has certainly come close on more than one occasion. He put in a respectable shift against Kauto Stone earlier this year at Down Royal but you’ve got to go back to November of last year to find his previous victory. He’s a Grade 3 winner but doesn’t look to be very well-placed based on his handicap. He’s also been beaten by Bobs Worth.