Smad Place Storms the Hennessy Gold Cup
Smad Place comfortably won the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury by 12 lengths on Saturday. After finishing fifth last year, everything went right for the eight-year-old here, as jockey Wayne Hutchinson lead him to a big victory.
Favourite Saphir Du Rheu finished unplaced as Smad took the win, after a ride that completely blew away his trainer Alan King. “We hoped for a good run but that’s taken my breath away,” King said. “He (Hutchinson) was very brave, but I’m not sure that were the tactics we discussed. He loves to be up there and he deserved to win a big race as he’d been knocking on the door.”
Sprinter Sacre’s recent win at the Shloer Chase hinted at a possible big comeback for the nine-year-old, and apparently he’s back and close to his best. His trainer Nicky Henderson said he’s set to miss Saturday’s Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown, saying that he doesn’t need much more to be ready in time for the 2016 Cheltenham Festival.
“We don’t need to run him again,” Henderson said. “We’re not going to learn anything. But he looks fantastic – he looked great coming into the race and he looks fantastic coming out of it.”
It seems like Sprinter will next be seen at the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton on December 27, which is the race were his heart condition was first detected two years ago.
Annie Power is another horse who is being eyed for a big comeback, and the mare could be back racing before Cheltenham kicks off, according to her trainer. Willie Mullins gave a positive update on her injury. “I’m very pleased with her progress and to my eye she is recovering quickly. I was hoping to have her cantering by the New Year and if things progress quicker than that, then maybe she could have a run before Cheltenham.”
