Wednesday 25th November 2015

Ruby Walsh: Bobs Worth the weight in the Hennessy but this 33/1 shot could out-run his odds

Former Hennessy and Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Bobs Worth looks ready to rock while Willie Mullins' Urano could surprise a few

by Ruby Walsh

Saphir Du Rheu
© Racehorse Photos

Coneygree’s absence from the Hennessy Gold Cup on Saturday changes everything. Horses that looked to have really nice racing weights now find themselves 9lbs higher in the handicap and that won’t make Saphir Du Rheu’s task any easier.

Paul Nicholls is going for his fourth win in this contest so knows what’s needed.

I won it on Strong Flow (2003) and was on Denman for the second of his two wins (2007, 2009). Saphir Du Rheu will have to put up a Denman-esque performance to win on Saturday.

His style of racing should help though as he likes to be ridden relatively close to the pace, jumps well and stays strong. If he wins with top-weight on his back – he’ll be a serious contender in the Cheltenham Gold Cup picture.

Bobs Worth
© Racehorse Photos

He beat The Young Master at Carlisle earlier this month and even though Neil Mullholland’s runner gets a further tug at the weights -he’ll need it. Going through the gears in handicaps is one thing but Saphir Du Rheu was never a handicapper and should have too much class for him again.

The Druids Nephew is still in at the five-day stage and I’d fancy him to be among the placed horses if trainer Neill Mullholland decides to run both.

My idea of the likely winner though is Nicky Henderson’s former Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Bobs Worth . He showed signs of his old sparkle at Aintree when beating Simonsig over hurdles and is 13lbs lower than his 2012 win in this race.

Smad Place was impressive at Kempton and Alan King’s horses are in good form. We found out last year with Djakadam that you need to be race-fit going into these top races. King hasn’t made the same mistake twice and Smad Place finished fifth last year.

Of the others further down the weights, both Fingal Bay and Urano appeal as the types who could run into the places.

Fingal Bay
© Racehorse Photos

Fingal Bay was pulled up under 11-8 here last year but carries practically a stone less on Saturday and was second to Smad Place at Kempton while Willie Mullins’ Urano was just chinned in the 3m Kerry National at Listowel in heavy ground and has a lovely racing weight here again. He’s a good jumper, stays well and likes to creep into his races and could out-run his price.

Ballycasey’s form was patchy last season but his record shows that he goes best fresh.