2010 Hennessy Gold Cup
Newbury Racecourse in Great Britain will be the scene of thrill and excitement as the 2010 Hennessy Gold Cup gets under way on Saturday, 27 November 2010. This prestigious Grade 3 national hunt chase event is run over a distance of 5 331 meters and contenders are required to clear twenty one fences during the race. Inaugurated in 1957, the first winner was Mandarin, owned by Peggy Hennessy. Her family has established the company and sponsored the race, and Mandarin would go on to win the race again in 1961. Amongst the worthy contenders of this years’ race, will be Denman, seeking a third victory in this popular British event.
Denman, better known by his nickname of The Tank, has won the Hennessy Gold Cup on two previous occasions, and if he is able to win the event for a third time, he will make Hennessy Gold Cup history. Winning the event in 2007 and again last year, Denman will return one year older and carrying the same weight as before. Even though he will most probably be the crowd favorite, as he has accumulated many fans over the years, Saturday will still be a challenge for the veteran race horse, as he will be up against a few formidable competitors which cannot be ruled out at this stage. One of the contenders that many believe will pose a threat to Denman, is Weird Al. He has been unbeaten in all four of his starts as a second-season chaser, and with twenty seven days rest from his last event, Weird Al is ready to take on the competition. However, Pandorama should not be forgotten, as in nine of his career starts, he has walked away victorious eight times, and the Hennessy Gold Cup will be his first start since suffering a muscle injury. After winning five of his six fence career starts, Burton Port is yet another contender in this prestigious hunt chase event who shows promise and skill, and could be capable of denying Denman his victory.
Other contenders for the 2010 Hennessy Gold up include Silver by Nature, Hey Big Spender, Diamond Harry, Taranis, Carruthers, Madison Du Belais, Neptune Collonges and Big Fella Thanks.
