Richard Osgood, clerk of the course at the Berkshire track, reports the ground to be good today but he is anticipating some substantial rain tomorrow morning.

“It’s good ground and it’s basically just where I would want it to be.

“We have had a good mixture of wet and dry weather this week and I don’t think anybody will be unhappy with it,” he explained.

“The problem is that we are forecast a serious band of rain from about 11am tomorrow and that could give us 5-6mm or more.

“It will obviously have an effect upon the ground, particularly if it carries on once racing gets underway.

“But I am very hopeful that it won’t deteriorate too much, too quickly.”

The cloud cover coming in with the forecast rain is set to rule out the risk of problems with frost, Osgood revealed.

“We did have a frost this morning, which has come out of the ground fine,” he added.

“But in fact it is forecast to be warmer tonight than it is at the moment so there definitely won’t be any problems.”

The predicted rain will help heighten the anticipation in the Henderson camp as the Seven Barrows trainer hopes to strike lucky on a Saturday for the third week running.

Henderson has enjoyed high-profile wins with Fondmort in the Paddy Power Gold Cup and Iris Royal in the First National Bank Gold Cup on the last two weekends, and is understandably hoping that his stable’s good form can continue.

Henderson will be watching the skies carefully in the build up to the race and he hopes the forecast will be right.

“The forecast says we are going to get it and I just hope that they are right,” he said.

“We could certainly do with a few drops as it is dry again today, but everything points to there being rain tonight or tomorrow morning, which would suit him perfectly.”

Punters have latched on to Irish Hussar, compacting his price down to as short as 9-2.

“I have seen that he has been backed and I just hope that they are right,” Henderson continued.

“He is as fit as I can get him at home. He has had a racecourse gallop, which was fine, and he has been schooling well.

“He seems to be in great form but winning the Hennessy isn’t going to be easy. It is a very tough and competitive race.”

The 23-runner field for the race is headed by the Philip Hobbs-trained One Knight, the winner of last year’s Royal & SunAlliance Chase, but he is lumbered with an 11st 12lb burden to defy.

The stable is also represented by Gunther McBride, a close seventh to Be My Royal in last year’s contest having made much of the early running.

Jonjo O’Neill declared both the confirmed soft-ground performer Joss Naylor and Sudden Shock.

The Jackdaws Castle trainer has warned that Joss Naylor will only run if there is significant overnight rain but he has been well supported with Ladbrokes for the race and is now an 7-1 shot.

Trainer Willie Mullins has some slight worries about the well-being of Hedgehunter.

The seven-year-old has already arrived in Britain for the race but Mullins is concerned about how he has settled in.

“He travelled over well but he didn’t eat great last night so we are just hoping he will be all right. He was in good form before he left but there’s a bit of concern that he didn’t eat 100% last night,” he explained.

“He ate enough and he won’t do an awful lot today so I think he should be OK in the morning. We’re just a tad concerned.”

Hedgehunter is making the move from novice company this campaign and this will be his first start since April.

“It’s a big step up and it’s also very hard to think that you could win a race like the Hennessy having your first run back,” Mullins said.

“With the ground being so firm this year we didn’t get a run into him. He’s been ready for a run but this was the plan all along so we said we would take our chance.

“I’m sure a few of the other runners would be the same.

“We would be happier if more rain comes but he has very good form on good ground as well.”

Carl Llewellyn rides the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Shardam in the race.

The six-year-old won the Open Trophy Chase at Cheltenham on his last start and although his rider knows he must improve again, he is upbeat about his chances.

He said: “Shardam needs to improve again to win the Hennessy, but he improved from last year to win at Cheltenham. There is no reason to think he won’t do so again.

“He has a nice racing weight, but there are plenty of horses who are in great form and the conditions will suit them. It just a case of who will perform on the day.

“He is a tough, seasoned campaigner and he will cope with Newbury well. It is an easier track than Cheltenham and much easier to ride as a jockey.”

Confidence is high in the Paul Nicholls camp ahead of the race and they are hoping for a big run from the novice Strong Flow.

The trainer told Teletext: “A the moment the pluses far outweigh the minuses for Strong Flow.

“His handicap mark of 140 looks quite favourable, he has a super cruising speed which you need for this race and we know he will stay the three mile, two furlong trip.”

The six-year-old has had just four runs over fences in his career, winning three races and falling on his only other start at Aintree.

Nicholls gave him a confidence-boosting run at Newton Abbot earlier this month and he has been pleased with the horse’s work since.

“I gave him a gentle piece of work on Wednesday and he came through it well. Also his blood test was fine, so we’ve decided to go for it. Given luck in running, he must have a fair chance,” he added.

Strong Flow is a 6-1 chance with Ladbrokes for the race while Irish Hussar is on offer at 5-1.

The firm have reported some support for Irish runner The Premier Cat and Shardam since declaration time with the latter being cut to 7-1 from 8’s.

“Whilst Irish Hussar is the worst loser in our book there are enough punters holding on to 25-1 vouchers about Shardam for us to get a sweat on even in this chilly weather,” said spokesman Balthazar Fabricius.

Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup betting:

Ladbrokes: 11-2 Irish Hussar, Strong Flow, 7-1 Joss Naylor, 8-1 One Knight, Shardam, Sir Rembrandt, 10-1 Hedgehunter, 12-1 Haut Cercy, 16-1 The Premier Cat, 20-1 Gunther McBride, 25-1 Take Control, 28-1 Take The Stand, Jungle Jinks, 33-1 Be My Belle, Barrow Drive, 40-1 Native Performance, 50-1 Arlas, Royal Predica, Sudden Shock, Merchants Friend, 66-1 Cruise The Fairway, Tom’s Prize, Iznogoud.