The stamina sapping Grade 3 handicap is one of the highlights before the turn of the year and looking at the early declarations it shouldn’t disappoint again. Worth over £100,000 to the winner the race has attracted a high class field of 58 runners with a top rating of 172.
My slection for the big race is the Nicky Henderson trained Vyta Du Roc. Owned by Simon Munir & Isaac Souede this 2nd season chaser had a consistent first season over fences winning twice and finishing off with a respectable 5th in the very competitive Scotish National.
The 7 year old gelding started last season at Bangor over an inadequate trip of 2m1f, despite this he was able to overcome The Saint James in a pulsating finish to win by 1/2 length. He would then go on to find the very talented Bouvreuil too good again over a trip short of his preference.
Finally upped in trip to 3mile brought his best performance when winning the Grade 2 Renoldstown chase at Acsot, getting the better of the highly regarded Minella rocco, when clinging on to a diminishing lead. Next up was the festival where he would tackle the Grade 1 RSA where he finished a respectable 5th beat just over 10 lengths. Perhaps needing a bit more cut in the ground as he looked one paced turning in up the famous hill.
His final outing as stated earlier was the Scottish national where he went off the 8/1 joint favourite. He again finished 5th being beaten under 10 lengths off a mark of 145, again looking one paced on spring ground.
Dropped 2lbs for that run, which is a bonus in my eyes as I thought it was a very good run for saying it was his first time over that kind of trip. The 3m2f trip will be right up his street on a galloping track. The Hennessy is most commonly run on soft ground, which would be a big bonus if this again occurs although the weather needs to change soon for this to happen.
To put his mark into perspective he was beat about 10 lengths by the RSA winner Blaklion off levels and he would now be getting 11 lbs, but blacklion is 14s whereas my selection is 33/1. Nicky Henderson has said this is the target for the son of Lion Noir so I fully expect him to be fully tuned up for the race and Nicky is no stranger to winning the Hennesey having won it twice in the last 4 renewals with Triolo D’Alene & Bobs Worth. He’s a consistent jumper and looks open to plenty of improvement with another summer at grass under his belt. He’s entered up at the weekend over hurdles and fences, which I’d imagine will be his prep run. My preference would be over hurdle to save his mark.
Selection: Vyta Du Roc 1pt EW 33/1
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