Hadrian’s Approach looks cracking value at 14/1 in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury tomorrow (3.00).
The race has been won by a second-season chaser 6 times in the last 10 years and Nicky Henderson’s charge falls nicely into that category.
He had some top class form to his name last season finishing second to Dynaste in the Feltham and third to Lord Windermere in the RSA at the Cheltenham Festival off an official rating of 147.
In between those two efforts he put in a really solid display when beaten just a short-head by Unioniste over 3 miles at this venue where he was trying to give 1lb to a horse rated 6lbs his superior.
The one slight concern is that he is prone to make the odd mistake, but connectiosnns are now fitting him with the cheekpieces for the first time and they could well help him concentrate on the matter in hand and cut out the errors.
Another plus is that he comes into the contest match-fot having been beaten just a nose by Bury parade on his reapperance at Kempton over 2m 5f, and his current mark of 146 certainly looks workable on the pick of his form.
He also has the services of the highly talented Nico de Boinville in the saddle who takes another invaluable 5lb off his back, and will have no problems staying the extended 3m 2f trip.
Daily Sport recommended bet: 3pts each-way Hadrian’s Approach (14/1 Coral, sportingbet)