Newbury preview: Hennessy Gold Cup Chase (15.00)

Saphir Du Rheu is the class horse in the race but has to shoulder top weight of 11st 12lb as a result.

Last year’s World Hurdle runner-up has won three of his five starts over fences, and made an impressive return to action when easily beating The Young Master by seven lengths at Carlisle.

However, Saphir Du Rheu is very inexperienced and it will take a Denman-style performance in my book to see him defy such a welter burden and land the spoils.

Ned Stark must be on his game to take Hennessy throne

One that I do think has the potential to be better than his mark and a big player is Ned Stark.

The Alan King trained gelding won competitive handicaps at Huntingdon and this venue at this time last year, before going on to land a Grade 2 contest at Wetherby.

Ned Stark was also far from disgraced when eighth of 23 to The Druids Nephew at the Cheltenham Festival off 143, and is now able to race off 3lb lower.

That should enable the seven-year-old to be very competitive, and Ned Stark is ideally suited by a galloping track like this and testing conditions.

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Coral’s top tip: A cracking and wide-open renewal of the Hennessy in which Theatre Guide looks decent each-way value. Ned Stark also looks a big player.