Horse Racing beting: Hennessy Gold Cup

Everyone these days seems to be talking about weight. Victoria Beckham: is she too fat, is she too thin? Any magazine that glues itself to your eyeballs on any form of transport seems to be carrying the subject. And the thorny issue has flooded racing this week in the build up to this year's Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury. Denman, the SunAlliance Chase winner, has been allotted the welter burden of 11st 10lbs and the top-weight has headed the ante-post list for the Newbury handicap for weeks. Currently a best-priced 4/1 with Bet365, Paul Nicholls' gelding is unbeaten in his last five starts and whatever your opinion of top-weights, he must rate shortlist material at the very least. Only three of the last 17 winners of this prestigious race have carried more than 11st to victory though, and two of those were horses of the highest class. Suny Bay lumped 11st 8lbs in 1997 and he finished runner-up in the Grand National twice, State of Play managed to win last year with 11st 4lbs, while Trabolgan heaved 11st 12lbs around the 3m2 1/2f course in 2005 to become the first top-weight since Burrough Hill Lad in 1984. It is a massive ask for Denman, but he follows in the footsteps of Trabolgan, who took in the Cheltenham showpiece before winning in Berkshire, and no-one should be put off backing the favourite. If Denman does indeed win this contest, he will be of serious interest for March's Gold Cup. There are other horses with good chances however, and the Hennessy winner over the years has always fitted a distinct profile. A young, second-season chaser, who has generally raced with under 11st. The five who not only fit this description but also have decent course form are Dom D'Orgeval, Always Waining, Snowy Morning, Hard Act To Follow and Abragante. The David Pipe-trained pair of Dom D'Orgeval and Abragante look the best of that quintet, although Dom D'Orgeval has to overcome a crushing defeat to Denman at Cheltenham. The seven-year-old has a massive weight advantage however, and he is classy enough having beaten recent Paddy Power victor L'Antartique last year. He looks a massive price at 20/1 with Bet Direct. Abragante has won three of his last four chases and will have his supporters at 6/1 with Stan James. He runs off a very light weight and the 10st 4lbs load should see the unexposed mount of Davy Russell go close. Snowy Morning finished second to Denman at Cheltenham and has a 13lb weight-advantage over the favourite. Trainer Willie Mullins sent over Be My Royal in 2002, a horse which was subsequently disqualified so Mullins will be gunning for this prize. Verdict: 1pt Dom D'Orgeval each-way @ 20/1 (Bet Direct)