Racing: Toiseach shows his authority

THE TOISEACH yesterday delighted his connections in his final warm-up for tomorrow's Hennessy Gold Cup. The ante-post second favourite completed his preparations for Newbury in a four-furlong gallop on Equitrack at Newmarket under Steve Smith Eccles.

"That was a nice pipe-opener," Smith Eccles said, "and has put the finishing touches on him. He's been bucking and kicking all week and is bursting with vitality. With such a low weight on Saturday, it is too good an opportunity to miss."

Nicky Richards has booked Richard Guest to ride Addington Boy for the race, but he warned that substantial rain at the Berkshire course would prevent the gelding from making the line-up for the pounds 70,000 chase. "Addington Boy is not that straightforward but Richard is very experienced," Richards said. "He is a strong boy who can get him settled and get him jumping."