Foxchapel King, a highly impressive winner on his seasonal debut at Cheltenham two weeks ago, will be joined by Alexander Banqet and Feathered Leader in a strong Irish challenge for Saturday`s Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury.
Mouse Morris, trainer of Foxchapel King, said yesterday: 'He`s good, everything`s perfect and we`re rocking and rolling towards Saturday. The better the ground the better his chance.'
There has been no Irish-trained winner of the race since Bright Highway was successful for Michael O`Brien in 1980.
Bookmakers are split over which of owner Robert Ogden`s big two, Kingsmark and Ad Hoc, to make favourite for the £90,000 race. Ad Hoc is 7 to 2 market leader with William Hill, who have Kingsmark at 4 to 1 while Ladbrokes and Coral make them the 4 to 1 joint-favorities.
The weights were raised 12lb yesterday following the expected defection of Florida Pearl, who originally headed the handicap on 12st.
The weights are now headed on 11-10 by last season`s Whitbread Gold Cup winner, Beau. The sevenyear-old, trained by Nigel TwistonDavies, was third to Foxchapel King on his seasonal reapppearance at Cheltenham.
With 23 horses standing their ground at yesterday`s confirmation stage, Saturday`s renewal could see the biggest field since Zeta`s Son beat 20 rivals in 1976.
Betting:
Ladrokes: 4-1 Ad Hoc, Kingsmark, 7-1 Foxchapel King, 8-1 Beau, 10-1 Alexander Banquet, King`s Road, 12-1 Red Marauder, 14-1 Browjoshy, Lord Noelie Marlborough, Windross, 16-1 bar.
Coral: 4-1 Ad Hoc, Kingsmark, 7-1 Beau, 15-2 Foxchapel King, 8-1 Lady Cricket, 10-1 Alexander Banquet, 12-1 King`s Road, Marlborough, 14-1 Lord Noelie, 16-1 Browjoshy, Feathered Leader, Strong Tel, Windross, 18-1 Spendid, 20-1 bar.
The appeal by Pat Hughes against the decision of the stewards at Galway not to award the Ove Arup 3-Y-O Hurdle on October 29th to his runner, Baby Power, was dismissed by the appeals and referral committee of the Turf Club yesterday. However, the trainer`s deposit was refunded.
The race was won Trimaclana by three-parts of a length from Baby Power, who appeared to be hampered on the run-in.
