In races of this calibre a horse has to be 100 per cent and last year's winner carries 24lb more on this occasion. Suny Bay: An impressive winner at Haydock last week, he made all to win by 11 lengths. The flying grey franked the form by winning the Peterborough Chase and even with top-weight this old warhorse will put up a brave show. Coome Hill: Back in contention after an injury scare following his third to Banjo at Cheltenham. He was reaching the target 15 days ahead of last year's schedule..
Barton Bank: Although now 11, Barton Bank ran a cracker on his seasonal reappearance behind One Man at Wetherby. Yesterday, McCoy waited until the last fence to produce his mount to collar his apparently beaten rival only to get no response from the horse on the run to the line. "Callisoe Bay battled and the other fellow didn't," said winning trainer Oliver Sherwood.Martin Pipe yesterday broke his own record for the fastest century of jump winners with odds-on shot Rainwatch at Newbury. A treble narrowly eluded Tony McCoy at Newbury yesterday when Challenger du Luc, hot favourite for the Jacky Upton Handicap Chase, was caught on the line and beaten a head by Callisoe Bay. Richard Dunwoody expertly demonstrated how the Pipe chaser needs the most patient of handling when winning last year's Murphy's Gold Cup.
They are not frightened of the likely favourite, Sanmartino, especially in receipt of 6lb.. I'm Supposin (next best 1.15) is well fancied by his team for the Gerry Feilden Hurdle. For those with harder heads and strong constitutions, however, the only win bet appears to be on the short- priced SUNY BAY (nap 2.25).Earlier on the card, Mistinguett will be a popular choice, but in a protracted contest in this ground only for the brave Spring Marathon (1.50) may be more than a coincidence selection. Ciel De Brion, who is owned by a member of the Hennessy family, Henri de Pracomtal, therefore looks the one for hopeful speculators. The general belief is that the Frenchman to figure will be Djeddah, but he is unlikely to appreciate the ground.
Trying Again too is fancied, but this seems hardly the occasion to examine if he gets a trip of this nature.An each-way consideration is Belmont King, whose stable is going well and is not adverse to the odd yomp, as he showed when winning the Scottish National.In addition, Francois Doumen does not come over here just to enjoy our fine cuisine and sartorial elegance, and one of his entry should reach the frame. His foxy connections are owner JP McManus and trainer Edward O'Grady (the artist formerly known as Eddie). Their vehicle has hardly branded reliability as his most potent weapon though, and his threat may have been overrated. There are others with pedigree in the race (not least the Voice who today completes his 40th and last commentary of the great race). Martin Pipe is after his third Hennessy with Eudipe, following the exploits of Strands Of Gold (1988) and Chatam (1991).The five-year-old has the blinkers removed for this afternoon's assignment, but would certainly have more chance if all his rivals were fitted with pillowcases.The one that everyone seems to fear is Ireland's Time For A Run, who significantly sneaks into the race on 10st. He jumps and stays and he's getting better all the time.''There is a caveat in the fact that Burrough Hill Lad in 1984 was the last favourite to win a Hennessy. Brooks was close to being a forlorn figure that day as he felt he owed Bradley one Today is payback time.