The 57th Hennessy Gold Cup: the racing event of the winter season

28 November 2013

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The most exciting horseracing event of the winter season - The Hennessy Gold Cup – takes place this Saturday, 30th November broadcast live on Channel 4.

Celebrities set to grace the Berkshire turf (The Racecourse Newbury) include actors James Corden, Rob Brydon and Joan Collins; Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda Holden and a wealth of glamorous faces.

Authors E.L. James and Jilly Cooper will have the chance to gain some inside racing knowledge while, Jeremy Clarkson can admire the traveling speed of the UK’s top chasers.

Now in its 57th year, The Hennessy Gold Cup off at 3:00pm is considered more than just a race and is the longest running sponsorship of its kind.  The trophy is celebrated and coveted by world class jockeys and trainers each winter and this year will be presented by HRH The Princess Royal.

Saturday’s coverage begins with The Morning Line live at 8am.  Nick Luck will lead an extended Hennessy Gold Cup and Stan James Fighting Fifth previews; and Tanya Stevenson will be joined by Aidan Connelly – 2013 Betting Shop Manager of the Year.  Dark Horse presented by Sam Thomas visits Northampton-based trainer Kim Bailey with an additional feature on Alan King, trainer of Hennessy leading contender – Invictus.

Clare Balding presents afternoon racing live from 1:30pm which takes in six races from Newbury (4) and Newcastle Racecourses (2).  Alice Plunkett, Rishi Persad, Jim McGrath, Mick Fitzgerald, Simon Holt and Tanya Stevenson complete the Channel 4 line up.  Channel4.com/racing will complement the coverage with full online and social media support.  Channel 4’s racing coverage is supported by Dubai.

For those wanting to know who to place their bets on this year, 2005 Hennessy winning jockey and Channel 4 Racing presenter, Mick Fitzgerald says: "The Hennessy is one of the highlights of the jumps season, a look at the past results tells you that the horses who have the best recent record are as a rule the horses who contested the RSA Novice Chase at the Cheltenham Festival plus some of the other big novice races.  Older horses tend to be exposed and open to being beaten by the younger ones coming through.  This year is no exception with Lord Windermere, Hadrians approach and Rocky Creek all fitting that profile.”