Alan King hunting for first Hennessy crown with Smad Place and Midnight Prayer
Smad Place (nearest the camera) and Midnight Prayer check out Newbury's going (Photo courtesy Newbury Racecourse & GJ Multimedia)Barbury Castle trainer Alan King talks to Harriet Rochester about next Saturday’s Hennessy Gold Cup
Next Saturday (29 November), marks the 58th running of the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury Racecourse. The race is one of the most significant handicap chases this side of Christmas. And Hennessy’s sponsorship of the race is the longest running commercial sponsorship in world sport.
Rich in horseracing heritage, the race’s winners include such names as Arkle and Denman, who both won the race twice – taking pride of place on its distinguished roll of honour. The Hennessy Gold Cup is the jewel in the crown of the Berkshire track’s jump racing calendar and of the three day Bet365 Hennessy Festival, featuring two further fantastic days of racing on the Thursday and Friday.
Marlborough’s Alan King is planning a two pronged attack on the historic race with Smad Place and Midnight Prayer as his two confirmed runners, with a third, Medermit, also holding an entry, but likely to run at Haydock on Saturday. [Medermit did run at Haydock today (November 22) and was unplaced in the Betfair Chase.]
Smad Place leads up the all-weather gallop (February 2014)Smad Place who has not seen a racecourse since he was beaten a neck by O’Faolains Boy in the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last March is currently priced at 10/1. The gallant grey had a progressive and impressive campaign last season, beating Sam Winner in February this year. He also was the convincing winner in a novice chase at Exeter last November.
Smad Place took part in a racecourse spin at Newbury on Tuesday along with stable mate Midnight Prayer, whose last race was also at the Cheltenham Festival when he won the four mile chase for amateur jockeys.
“It wasn’t serious work, but they both enjoyed it. They just cantered quickly down the back, breezed along – neither had a hard blow, they just did enough”, King explained at Newbury’s media launch.
Speaking from his yard on Friday, Alan King told Marlborough News Online: “Smad Place’s form is very strong and progressive, his win against Sam Winner in February has franked this.”
“His racecourse gallop on Tuesday should also tune him up nicely before next Saturday and he will work tomorrow and school next week, the only question mark is who will ride, as I am not sure if Wayne Hutchinson will be ready”.
Wayne Hutchinson is Alan’s stable jockey along with Robert Thornton. They have both been side-lined with injuries.
“Midnight Prayer’s main target is the Welsh National after Christmas and to be honest there aren’t too many options for him. His form is also very good and I am not worried about dropping him back in trip from four miles especially on soft going”.
In previous years King has not had many runners in the race and has yet to saddle a winner in the race: “I love this fixture and its history and it would be marvellous to win the Hennessy”.
Newbury Racecourse’s Bet365 Hennessy Festival runs from Thursday 27 to Saturday 29 November.