MANY CLOUDS can come of age with success in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury.
Recent trends point towards plumping for a second-season chaser with the likes of Bobs Worth, Diamond Harry, Trabolgan and the great Denman all winning the historic prize at the start of their first full season.
While last year's winner Triolo D'Alene - who tries his luck again - bucked that trend, it does not do to be too exposed in what is one of the most competitive handicaps of the year.
Many Clouds lines up off a mark of 151 which seems fair given that he was not beaten far by subsequent RSA Chase victor O'Faolains Boy when conceding weight at Ascot back in February and was then brought down in that Festival race when still in with every chance.
His final effort at Aintree was perhaps a step too far but he seemed to have thrived through the summer when returning to win in a Listed chase at Carlisle at the beginning of the month.
He reversed Aintree form with Holywell there and the run should have put him spot on for this - trainer Oliver Sherwood has made no secret of the fact he believes the horse has improved for another summer on his back.
Tony McCoy has made sure he is 100% before teaming up with More Of That in the bet365 Long Distance Hurdle and the hint should be taken.
The multiple champion was eager to recover from his injury issues in time to partner the Jonjo O'Neill-trained six-year-old and it is easy to see why, when you consider his exemplary record.
A winner at Wetherby, More Of That added another low-key victory at Haydock before exploding on the staying scene when winning the Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham last December.
Off the track until the World Hurdle in March, he made a serious impression with his comfortable defeat of hot favourite Annie Power and given that was only his fourth hurdles start, More Of That should have plenty of improvement still to come.
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