Bobs Worth aims to emulate Denman by graduating to full company with victory in Saturday's Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury.

The Nicky Henderson-trained Bobs Worth won the RSA Chase in March and is pitched into this ultra-competitive Grade Three handicap on his first start back, a route taken by Paul Nicholls with Denman in 2007.

Henderson said: "It was always where we were going to start. He stays and I think he handles soft ground."

He added: "I'm not worried about his handicap mark as he's not going to go up sitting in his box - I don't think he's particularly well handicapped anyway. We do have a preference to go left-handed, so Newbury was the obvious way to go."

Tidal Bay carries top weight for Nicholls in the three-and-a-quarter-mile heat after returning to winning form with victory in the bet365 Gold Cup last April.

That was his first win in over two years and he has since added a Grade Two hurdle victory at Wetherby on his seasonal return.

Nicholls said: "It took us a while to get him right last year but he won the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown very well off top weight and then he won over hurdles recently at Wetherby. I hope the ground is testing and I think he's got a great chance.

"It's not going to be easy, but he carried 11st 12lb in the bet365 race. He's a very classy horse and that counts. The weight doesn't worry me. We've worked out how to train him and we've got him right.

"What he wants is testing ground so they go slow and he can just be passing horses quietly as he picks the bridle up.

"I saw him work the other day and I think it's the best I've seen him look, so I'm hopeful we've just turned things around and he's got a chance."

13 May 2013

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12 May 2013

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11 May 2013

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10 May 2013

Telescope focus is on Dante
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Ascot welcomes a couple of Guests