After last weekends exciting performances by Kauto Star, Imperial Commander, Diamond Harry and Zaynar we now have the Hennessy Gold Cup Chase to look forward to at Newbury on Saturday the 28th as well as the Wbx.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle. Denman (pictured) is a short priced favourite for the Hennessy.If he is in the same form of two years ago when he won this race he will take all the beating. He has to give weight to a lot of good horses namely Barbers Shop who will be wearing cheekpieces for the first time. They certainly worked for Madison du Berlais last season. Snowy Morning started favourite for this race two years ago only to fall early on. He had a disappointing season last season but you can never rule out one of Willie Mullins runners. War of Attrition also comes over from Ireland for the first time since his Cheltenham Gold Cup win of 2006. They all receive lots of weight from Denman. The one that interests me most though for an each way bet is Roll Along who finished sixth in last years Cheltenham Gold Cup when trained by Carl Llewellyn. Carl Llewellyn is now assistant to Nigel Twiston-Davies who now trains Roll Along. His horses are in tremendous form. Roll Along will be ridden by the in form jockey Noel Fehily. The Hennessy Gold Cup is worth £200,000 and is always one of the highlights of the jumping season. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

Tomorrow (Saturday) sees the return of jump racing star, Kauto Star (pictured), in the £200,000 Betfair Chase (the Lancashire Chase) at Haydock over 3 miles. The going forecast is heavy which is ground Kauto Star has not won on before but he is a class act and great horses "go" on any ground. The mud loving Notre Pere and Halcon Genelardais, if he is the right frame of mind, might be the ones to make a race of it if it comes to a slog. Madison du Berlais had a terrific season last season but did not encounter heavy ground. He proved he stays beyond three miles by winning last years Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury over 3 miles 2 furlongs. If he acts on the ground he could be the each way value. It promises to be an interesting race. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

The 3 Day Cheltenham Open Meeting got underway today (Friday 13th) and certainly whetted our appetites for the months ahead. Tomorrow sees the feature race of the three days the Paddy Power Gold Cup Chase worth £150,000 and run over 2 miles 4 furlongs. It does look a very tricky affair and with the anticipated heavy rain forecast the ability to act on the going and stay beyond the race distance will be a major factor. According to Pete might well fit the bill. He did all his racing over 3 miles last season winning four times. He has to be kept to left-handed courses, likes to make the running and has a good racing weight tomorrow. Maljimar (pictured) ran well in this race last year and eventually finished seventh. Next time out he very nearly won at the Festival in the William Hill Trophy where he lost by a neck to Wichita Lineman who was given a fantastic ride by Tony McCoy. This year Maljimar runs in the Servo Trophy Handicap Chase worth £55,000 and run over 3 miles 3 furlongs. He has already had a run over the Cheltenham course this season which should have put him spot on for tomorrow. He has to be patiently ridden which should help him stay the distance of this race which is unknown territory for him. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

What an extraordinary race the American mare Zenyatta ran in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Saturday evening. She looked virtually tailed off early on and then showed a tremendous turn of foot to catch and pass the entire field and win with her ears pricked as pictured. Rip Van Winkle was hugely disappointing. Trainer Aidan O'Brien and jockey Johnny Murtagh were very bullish beforehand but Rip Van Winkle folded very tamely as though he had had enough for the season. He had been on the go as long as Sea the Stars but run one race less. Twice Over ran great to be third but he was probably only about two lengths behind Zenyatta. In my opinion an in form Sea the Stars would have won this race, but obviously connections did not want to take the chance that he would have been over the top for the season. Zenyatta was sensational and is America's version of Sea the Stars. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

I always associate the Charlie Hall Chase Meeting at Wetherby as the start of the National Hunt season "proper". Last Saturday's race had a poor turn out for a £100,000 race, trainers no doubt concerned about the safety of the ground. As it happened the race provided a super finish between Deep Purple, Tamarinbleu and Ollie Magern, Deep Purple just getting up on the line. Fair Along (pictured) won the John Smith's West Yorkshire long distance hurdle rather easily. He goes very well for young jockey Rhys Flint, who, according to the essay in Timeforms' Chasers & Hurdlers has been associated with the horse since he was thirteen. Fair Along disappointed in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket so denying the blogger of a 1-2-3 ! The trainers wife, Sarah Hobbs, stated that he had lost ground at the start and consequently sulked. The Cheltenham 3 day Open Meeting on the 13th, 14th,and 15th November whets our appetites for the Festival next year. The main race will be the Paddy Power Gold Cup Steeplechase which takes place on the Saturday. A two and a half miles handicap, the race will be worth £150,000. The weights are yet to be published but I am hoping last years second, Barbers Shop, puts in an appearance. On the Sunday the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle, worth £100,000 will be the feature race. For all the up to date news from the course click on Cheltenham. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".