IN an ever-changing world, the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury a few weeks before Christmas has been a constant over many decades. Come rain or shine, the race has always attracted a competitive field and often featured a top-class winner.

This year’s contest, which will be the last under the current sponsorship, attracted 19 runners and went to a young horse in Native River who deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as all but the very best of the race’s long list of winners. It was a popular result, too, with Native River backed into short-priced favouritism.