Peter Beaumont has elected to let Young Kenny take part in today's Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury, and he can gain handsome reward with victory in the £85,000 showpiece.

The eight-year-old was one of the most improved chasers in training last season, cutting a swathe through the top staying handicaps in the latter half of the term.

He claimed victory in the Greenalls Grand National Trial at Haydock in February, followed up in the Marstons Pedigree Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter and crowned his season with a nine-length defeat of Hollybank Buck in the Scottish Grand National at Ayr in April.

He was widely-touted as the horse to beat in the 2000 Martell Grand National, but it would be no surprise to see him make up into a genuine Gold Cup contender.

Young Kenny makes his seasonal debut here and would prefer some rain, but he is worth taking a chance with at double-figure odds.

But Martin Pipe's hopes of winning a third running of this event were dashed when he was forced to withdraw Hanakham. The horse has run only twice in 32 months, since joining the Pipe team, though he made a successful seasonal debut at Cheltenham a fortnight ago.

Bacchanal is another horse who can make a winning start to the campaign. Nicky Henderson's charge runs in the Skyhopper Helicopter Partnership Gerry Feilden Hurdle, the first step in what could be an exciting season for the gelding.

Second to Tonoco on his debut at Huntingdon in January, the five-year-old went one better at Sandown and then trounced four rivals in the Sir Peter O'Sullevan Novices' Hurdle at Chepstow.

Bacchanal was found have suffered a stress fracture on his only subsequent start at Punchestown in April, but is reported to have made a full recovery and can return to winning ways here.

Far Cry can make a winning debut over timber for Martin Pipe in the www.ferrarimerchandiseshop.com Novices' Hurdle.

The Northumberland Plate and Doncaster Cup winner is said to have schooled well and is expected to win plenty of races.

Dato Star looked a top-notch performer when winning the Pertemps Fighting Fifth Hurdle from the ill-fated French Holly 12 months ago.

Malcolm Jefferson's charge failed to live up to that promise subsequently, falling at Cheltenham and finishing a distant third to French Holly in the Christmas Hurdle, but is a confident selection to land the Newcastle feature for the second year running.

At Haydock, the Bet Direct Tim Molony Memorial Chase over an extended three and a half miles can fall to the in-form stable of Venetia Williams through Careysville.