RACING: Nicky Henderson is agonising over whether to run star chasers Bacchanal and Marlborough in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury on Saturday.
The Lambourn trainer is preparing them for the Pertemps King George VI Chase at Kempton on St Stephen's Day but both have plenty of weight in the extended three and quarter mile race, with Bacchanal top of the pile on 11st 12lb and Marlborough on 11-6.
"We are desperate to get a run into Bacchanal before the King George. There are really only three opportunities - the Hennessy, a long distance hurdle on the same card and the Rehearsal Chase at Chepstow the following week," he said yesterday.
"At the moment we have to stay in everything and see how it pans out. A decision has to be made shortly. He's in very good form.
"Bacchanal has to go where we think is the right place for him. Obviously if he did run it helps Marlborough because it leaves him on 11-6 otherwise the weights may go up."
Another facing a tough decision of a different kind is Tony McCoy, with the champion jockey having to choose between Martin Pipe's four possible runners.
"They are four very good horses. Take Control was third in the Hennessy last year and won the Scottish National at the backend, Bounce Back won the attheraces Gold Cup, Stormez won the long distance staying chase at Cheltenham and Iznogoud was second in the Sun Alliance Chase," he said yesterday.
"They are all capable of winning the Hennessy and you've to assess it and see as late as possible which one is best on the day."
The last Irish-trained winner was Bright Highway and there could be as many as four runners from this country this time - Harbour Pilot (10-0), Give Over (9-12), Takagi (9-10) and Be My Royal (8-10).
Ladbrokes betting: 7-1 Bounce Back, 9-1 Hussard Collonges, 10-1 Harbour Pilot, 11-1 Frosty Canyon, Gunther Mcbride, Gingembre, 12-1 Ad Hoc, Gola Cher, Stormez, Iznogoud, 14-1 Direct Access, 16-1 Carbury Cross, Whitenzo, Marlborough, 20-1 Give Over, Red Striker, Southern Star, Takagi, Bacchanal, 25-1 bar.
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