Ante-post favourite Ad Hoc was among 62 horses to stand their ground for the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury on November 25th.
The Paul Nicholls-trained six-year-old, 4-1 market leader with Ladbrokes, fell at the final fence at Wincanton last Saturday when looking likely to make a winning seasonal debut in the Badger Brewery Handicap Chase.
Ad Hoc, handed 9st 2lb in the Hennessy, has been raised 8lb by the handicapper following his Wincanton run.
Willie Mullins is responsible for five of the eight Irish acceptors, headed by Florida Pearl, the top-weight on 12st.
The next horse in the handicap is Whitbread Gold Cup winner Beau, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, on 10st 12lb.
This year`s Hennessy, the 44th running of the race, is worth #90,000, up six per cent on last year and is the highlight of a card carrying a total of #200,000 in prize money.
The breeder of the Hennessy winner also stands to pick up #10,000 while runners from outside Britain are entitledto a #500 travel allowance if they take their chance.
