Gold heads Hennessy field
First Gold tops the weights for the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury later this month.
Francois Doumen’s 11-year-old, winner of the 2000 King George VI Chase, is set to carry 11st 12lb in the November 27 showpiece.
Jonjo O’Neill’s Keen Leader and the Tom Taaffe-trained Kicking King, one of last season’s best novice chasers, are next best on 11st 7lb.
The well-fancied Joly Bey has been allotted 10st 3lb, while Martin Pipe’s Therealbandit has been given 10st 13lb.
Nigel Twiston-Davies’ three-time novice chase winner Ollie Magern has 10st 9lb, with the very promising Lord Transcend, who was limited to just one start last year, on 9st 12lb.
Hughie Morrison’s Frenchman’s Creek, off the track since finishing third in the 2002 Attheraces Gold Cup, could be an interesting contender on 10st 3lb.
