Morris is optimistic

Foxchapel King, a highly impressive winner on his seasonal debut at Cheltenham two weeks ago, will be joined by Alexander Banqet and Feathered Leader in a strong Irish challenge for Saturday's Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury. Mouse Morris, trainer of Foxchapel King, said yesterday: "He's good, everything's perfect and we're rocking and rolling towards Saturday. The better the ground the better his chance."

There has been no Irish-trained winner of the race since Bright Highway was successful for Michael O'Brien in 1980.

Bookmakers are split over which of owner Robert Ogden's big two, Kingsmark and Ad Hoc, to make favourite for the £90,000 race. Ad Hoc is 7 to 2 market leader with William Hill, who have Kingsmark at 4 to 1 while Ladbrokes and Coral make them the 4 to 1 joint-favourites.

The weights were raised 12lb yesterday following the expected defection of Florida Pearl, who originally headed the handicap on 12st.

The weights are now headed on 11-10 by last season's Whitbread Gold Cup winner, Beau. The seven-year-old, trained by Nigel TwistonDavies, was third to Foxchapel King on his seasonal reapppearance at Cheltenham.

With 23 horses standing their ground at yesterday's confirmation stage, Saturday's renewal could see the biggest field since Zeta's Son beat 20 rivals in 1976.

Betting:

Ladrokes: 4-1 Ad Hoc, Kingsmark, 7-1 Foxchapel King, 8-1 Beau, 10-1 Alexander Banquet, King's Road, 12-1 Red Marauder, 14-1 Browjoshy, Lord Noelie Marlborough, Windross, 16-1 bar.

Coral: 4-1 Ad Hoc, Kingsmark, 7-1 Beau, 15-2 Foxchapel King, 8-1 Lady Cricket, 10-1 Alexander Banquet, 12-1 King's Road, Marlborough, 14-1 Lord Noelie, 16-1 Browjoshy, Feathered Leader, Strong Tel, Windross, 18-1 Spendid, 20-1 bar.

The appeal by Pat Hughes against the decision of the stewards at Galway not to award the Ove Arup 3-Y-O Hurdle on October 29th to his runner, Baby Power, was dismissed by the appeals and referral committee of the Turf Club yesterday. However, the trainer's deposit was refunded.

The race was won Trimaclana by three-parts of a length from Baby Power, who appeared to be hampered on the run-in.