Racing

Many Clouds battles hard to give Oliver Sherwood a second Hennessy Gold Cup

Jockey Leighton Aspell brings home 8 to 1 shot in Newbury feature

Leighton Aspell riding Many Clouds (right) clear at the last to win The Hennessy Gold Cup from Houblon Des Obeaux () at Newbury. Photograph: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images
Leighton Aspell riding Many Clouds (right) clear at the last to win The Hennessy Gold Cup from Houblon Des Obeaux () at Newbury. Photograph: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images
Sat Nov 29 2014 - 15:41

Many Clouds outstayed his rivals to give trainer Oliver Sherwood a second victory in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury.

Sherwood scored with Arctic Call back in 1990 and Many Clouds demonstrated seemingly endless reserves of stamina to triumph under Leighton Aspell at odds of 8 to 1.

Houblon Des Obeaux kept on for second as a 50 to 1 chance, with Merry King third and Monbeg Dude fourth in the Grade Three feature.

Djakadam, the 5 to 1 favourite, could be spotted travelling well at one stage but when push came to shove, Willie Mullins’s charge had nothing left in the tank and finished out of the frame.

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Sherwood said: “This is special, it doesn’t happen to me, I’m just chuffed to bits.

“He’s a very, very tough horse, I’m just delighted for the whole team.”

Many Clouds was buried in the pack on the first circuit as What A Warrior, Annacotty and Le Reve set a strong gallop in the early stages.

However, their exertions soon told and they were swallowed up as the challengers were lined up in behind.

Houblon Des Obeaux looked a likely winner as he headed in front of Many Clouds in the straight, with Merry King coming between horses under champion jockey Tony McCoy.

Many Clouds found plenty for Aspell after jumping the last, though, edging ahead on the run-in before eventually pulling three and a quarter lengths clear.

Houblon Des Obeaux hung on for second by a length, with Monbeg Dude staying on with purpose for fourth.

Aspell said: “I used his jumping just to get my position.

“I was very conscious not to be in front too early, this is his first time at the trip.

“It’s great to get the opportunity to ride these big winners.”

Houblon Des Obeaux's trainer Venetia Williams was full of praise for her charge.

She said: “I’m absolutely thrilled. I think we celebrated as if we had won as that was a wonderful performance off top weight.

“He’s only a seven-year-old and we’ve had him since he was a three-year-old.

“There will be a route to Aintree for the National but I think we will leave that for next year.”

McCoy said of Merry King: “I thought three out I as going to win. He ran a blinder, in fairness.”