Mark Pitman was yesterday delighted with the condition of the track at Newbury after walking the course ahead of Ever Blessed's challenge for tomorrow's Hennessey Gold Cup. "I was very happy, I thought the course was in super condition," the Lambourn trainer said. "They've obviously worked very hard on it, there is a good covering of grass.
"I thought the ground was good ground and it's all systems go."
Pitman is also pleased with Ever Blessed's progress. "The horse is very well and I think it will boil down to the fact if he jumps well he will take a lot of beating but if he makes any mistakes he'll get beat."
Clerk of the course Mark Kershaw had earlier reported the going to be on the soft side of good for the meeting which starts today. One horse for whom the rain is essential is Step On Eyre, a winner at Bangor, Haydock and Wetherby last season, beating Young Kenny at Wetherby.
A spokesperson for trainer Henry Daly said: "We really want it to be good to soft for the horse to run and Henry will probably leave it until the last minute before making up his mind."
Betty's Boy and Djeddah proved to be the market movers with Ladbrokes for the extended three-and-a-quarter miles. The firm cut Betty's Boy from 16 to 1 to 12 to 1 while Francois Doumen's French raider Djeddah was cut to 7 to 1.
"The support has been sustained and shrewd and we've been forced to trim both horses," said spokesman Sean Boyce.
Coral report good support for Fiddling the Facts and have shortened the odds of Nicky Henderson's charge to 9 to 1 from 11 to 1.
Hennessey Gold Cup:
Ladbrokes betting: 5-1 Hanakham, Earthmover, 6-1 Ever Blessed, 13-2 Spendid, 71 (from 8s) Djeddah, 8-1 The Outback Way, 10-1 Young Kenny, Fiddling The Facts, Tullymurry Toff, 12-1 (from 16-1) Betty's Boy, 16-1 Suny Bay, Macgeorge, 20-1 The Last Fling, Step On Eyre, 50-1 Jack Doyle, Queen Of Spades, 66-1 Doulago.
Coral: 9-2 Earthmover, 5-1 Splendid, 11-2 Hanakham,6-1 Ever Blessed, 7-1 Djeddah,8-1 The Outback Way, 9-1 (from 11-1) Fiddling The Facts, 10-1 Young Kenny, Tullymurry Toff, 12-1 Betty's Boy, 16-1 Suny Bay, Step on Eyre, 18-1 Macgeorge, 20-1 bar
A field of 15 will go to post for the Japan Cup in Tokyo on Sunday, including British trio Alborada, Fruits Of Love and High-Rise, drawn nine, 11 and 12 respectively.
Alborada will be ridden by George Duffield, with Michael Roberts on Fruits Of Love and Frankie Dettori on board HighRise. Roberts replaces Kieren Fallon, serving a suspension meted out by the racecourse stewards in Hong Kong earlier this week.
Arc de Triomphe hero Montjeu, a warm favourite to further extend his reputation, has been drawn 14 of 15. He will again be partnered by Michael Kinane.
His trainer John Hammond will be hoping that the rain that is forecast arrives before the big race as the going is currently on the fast side.
