Ad Hoc's Hennessy plan

Lydia Hislop13 April 2012

Ad Hoc, who finally lived up to his hype when winning last year's Whitbread Gold Cup, could miss Saturday's intended comeback at Wincanton in favour of heading straight for the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup on 1 December.

Ditcheat trainer Paul Nicholls works the seven-year-old gelding today and will then discuss his next step with owner, Sir Robert Ogden. Ad Hoc would carry 12st topweight in this Saturday's Badger Brewery Handicap Chase, but has been allotted just 10st 8lb for next month's valuable Newbury event.

"I haven't rushed Ad Hoc and, although he's entered on Saturday, I think he'll probably go straight for the Hennessy," said Nicholls.

"People say he needs good ground, but it was pretty soft at Sandown when he won the Whitbread. It just took him all last season to grow up."

Nicholls instead plans to run Montifault in Saturday's £40,000 Wincanton feature. A good show could qualify him for a shot at the Hennessy, for which stablemate Shotgun Willy is also a possible.

Nicholls drew "a lot of positives" from the latter's 19-length third to Sackville last Saturday.

"My jockey, Timmy Murphy, now knows Shotgun Willy better and it was a fast time on ground quicker than he likes. It's the Hennessy or Chepstow's Rehearsal Chase next," said Nicholls.

The Tote rates Shotgun Willy a 14-1 shot for the Hennessy, behind 7-1 favourite Ad Hoc. Montifault trades at 10-1.

Their stable companion, dual King George and 1999 Gold Cup hero See More Business, makes his return in either Cheltenham's Intervet Trophy on Saturday week or Haydock's Edward Hanmer. But Nicholls "must get Fadalko right before running him again", following his disappointing third to Best Mate on Tuesday.

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