Ground worries could affect number of Hennessy entries.Several trainers are eyeing the weather before confirming their entries in Saturday's Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury. Ferdy Murphy's New Alco was yesterday the subject of an each way gamble, but the trainer has indicated he hopes there will be no further rain, as his seven year old prefers good underfoot conditions. New Alco was actually pulled up in last year's race, but the trainer now feels he has found the key to a better performance this time around, "He is at his best when he is fresh, and we are confident he will give a good account of himself providing conditions are suitable". subject to ground conditions at Newbury remaining good, Philip Hobbs will probably be double handed in the Hennessy. Old campaigner Monkerhostin, who disappointed in his first run of the season in Wetherby's Charlie Hall Chase, will participate no matter what, but Parsons Legacy, a winner of his first race this season, will only line up if there is no further rain. Meanwhile Tom George told At The Races, his Island Flyer is in fine form, and he is expecting a strong performance, but only if ground conditions remain good. Joe will head to Chepstow.Recent impressive Cheltenham winner Joe Lively will miss Saturday's Hennessy Gold Cup, as a cut he sustained on his leg in the Cheltenham race has not healed sufficiently for him to gallop and connections rate him so highly they do not want to risk his well being. Trainer Colin Tizzard now intends to prepare him for a crack at the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow on 27 December. Based on today's initial decleration stage for the race, Joe Lively will have to face 2006 Welsh Grand National winner Halcon Genelardais on worse terms than there recent Cheltenham run. In addition, he is likely to come up against 2007 winner Miko de Beauchene, and 2005 winner L'aventure, the latter having recently transferred from Paul Nicholls to the Nick Williams yard. Cooper happy to take a chance.Tralee based trainer Thomas Cooper is said to be very happy with the form and condition of Forpadydeplasterer. The handler believes his Grade One winning novice hurdler has taken well to chasing, and the proposed step up to two and a half miles in Sunday's Drinmore Chase at Fairyhouse will certainly suit his young charge. Although Cooper thinks the predicted heavy conditions will suit one or two others of his eight declared rivals, he is confident Forpadydeplasterer will not be out of place in top company, and should certainly be in the reckoning in the final stages of Sunday's race.
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