Darkness: has won his last two starts at Newbury

  PICTURE: Edward Whitaker/racingpostpix.com  

Rarely seen Darkness heads for Hennessy

LADY LLOYD-WEBBER'S rarely seen chaser Darkness is on target to reappear in Saturday's Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury.
Darkness, winner of eight races, has run only four times since the spring of 2006 due to injury, but he impressed last winter when successful over the Hennessy trip of 3m2f in a veterans' handicap chase at Newbury when ridden by Tony McCoy.

Simon Marsh, the owner's racing manager, told racingpost.com on Tuesday: "Darkness is fine, and the plan is to run at Newbury. He acts on all types of ground, bar the extremes."

Darkness has an outstanding record when fresh and he will be racing for the first time since the John Smith's Grand National, where he finished 13th behind Mon Mome. He is a top-priced 40-1 with Ladbrokes and William Hill. Stan James and Totesport go 25-1.

His trainer Charles Egerton struck form with a double on Monday.