Denman heads 37 acceptors at the six-day stage for the Hennessy Gold Cup on Saturday and is a 4/1 favourite with Sky Bet for the Newbury showpiece.

The 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner put up one of the best performances ever seen to run away with the brandy in the 2007 renewal and has been well backed all week to stage a repeat.

Matt Doyle of Sky Bet told Bettingpro: ‘We have more reason than most to want him beaten with liabilities running on from a special double after stablemate Kauto Star scraped home in the first leg at Haydock on Saturday.’

Paul Nicholls has also left in 33/1 outsider My Will and What A Friend – the likely mount of Sam Thomas with Ruby Walsh opting for Denman – and he is next best at 11/2 with Sky Bet.

Their third favourite is 6/1 chance Barbers Shop, who is the other bogey result in Sky Bet’s ante-post book with Denman keeping the weights down for last year’s classy Paddy Power runner-up.

Killyglen represents the north as a 7/1 shot for Howard Johnson, while Carruthers at the foot of the weights is quoted at 10/1 with Sky Bet for the Mark Bradstock stable.

Others to note are last year’s Cheltenham Foxhunter’s winner Cappa Bleu, who is an 8-1 chance to give Evan Williams his second winner of the historic race after State of Play (33/1) won it three years ago.

Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup, Saturday Nov 28th, Sky Bet betting: Click here for information on how to get a free bet with SkyBet.

4 Denman, 11/2 What A Friend, 6 Barbers Shop, 7 Killyglen, 8 Cappa Bleu, 10 Carruthers, 14 Horner Woods, Gone To Lunch, 16 Casey Jones, 20 Ballyfitz, Nenuphar Collonges, Roll Along, An Accordion, The Package, 25 Siegemaster, Kornati Kid, Snowy Morning, Arbor Supreme, Treacle 33 According to Pete, New Alco, Calgary Bay, My Will, Darkness, State of Play, Dream Alliance, Hennessy, Joe Lively, Mon Mome, Chief Dan George, Offshore Account, Chelsea Habour, 40 Niche Market, 50 War of Attrition, Operation Houdini, Ponmeoath, Freeze Up

Each-way terms ¼ odds first four places