Soft ground would foil Hennessy challenge

Lydia Hislop13 April 2012

Soft ground, rather than the absence of jockey Mick Fitzgerald, is connections' chief concern if Marlborough is to contest the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup on Saturday week.

But punters should not be deterred from backing the Cheltenham Gold Cup hope on his comeback run in Newbury's £100,000 event.

That was the advice of Barry Simpson, racing manager to Marlborough's owner Sir Robert Ogden, as he awaited Fitzgerald's decision on whether to appeal against a ban that could rule him out of the Hennessy for the second year running.

Trainer Nicky Henderson's stable jockey - the man most responsible for transforming Marlborough from dodgy jumper to top-class chaser - was handed a six-day ban for irresponsible riding at Cheltenham yesterday that would potentially sideline him from 27 November until 3 December inclusive.

Fitzgerald's availability ruled Marlborough's campaign last season, but the Hennessy remains the nine-year-old's target.

"It is a worry that Mick might not be available because it's been two years of schooling and nursing in his hands that has made the horse," said Simpson.

"We wouldn't want to throw all that away in one race. But I wouldn't put punters off backing Marlborough for the Hennessy. We will find another jockey if Mick can't ride, but the horse remains his mount in the long-term. Of more concern is the ground: if it came up soft or heavy like it did last year, we'll pull him out."

Ad Hoc, who carries the same colours but is trained by Paul Nicholls, is also bound to make his seasonal reappearance in the Hennessy.

But Simpson dented many an ante-post punter's ambitions by admitting the horse is deemed more of a Grand National prospect than a Cheltenham Gold Cup hope.

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