Paul Nicholls' gut instinct is that Denman will do no better than finish fourth or fifth in Saturday's Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury.

The 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner coped with the 11st 12lb burden in the Hennessy two years ago when tanking his way to success, but he is considerably higher in the weights this year.

The nine-year-old has to give upwards of 12lb to his rivals and, despite being back in rude health after an interrupted campaign last season, the champion trainer believes the 4/1 favourite faces a tough task at the Berkshire course.

"It is almost like last year didn't happen with Denman and he is back to where he was two years ago," said Nicholls. "He was well-handicapped when he won the Hennessy and he is a lot higher this year after winning the Gold Cup that year, but if he runs like he did in last year's Gold Cup he must have a chance.

"My feeling -- and I may be wrong -- is that he will run a sound race on Saturday to finish fourth or fifth. I did think that coming into this race two years ago and he won. He was well handicapped then, but I am not so sure now.

"He'll then go back to a Grade One in the Lexus Chase and have a big chance, and obviously the Gold Cup is his big target."

Nicky Henderson will give Punjabi a racecourse outing at Newbury on Sunday morning ahead of his return to action in the Boylesports.com International at Cheltenham on December 12.

The reigning champion hurdler had been due to make his seasonal bow at Newcastle this weekend but has taken time to come to hand and stablemate Binocular will instead line up in the WBX.COM Fighting Fifth Hurdle.

Barbers Shop will sport cheekpieces for the first time when squaring up to Denman in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury on Saturday.

Trainer Nicky Henderson has taken advice from stable jockeys past and present, with Mick Fitzgerald, Tony McCoy and Barry Geraghty all saying the seven-year-old will improve with the use of headgear.

Henderson said: "Mick said at Cheltenham two years go that one day he will need them. AP (McCoy) schooled him the other day and Barry has also said it, so we are going to do it.

"I think his courage is there but he just needs to get into his own zone."

Mouse Morris is looking to run The Hurl at Leopardstown's Christmas meeting following the six-year-old's victory at Navan on Sunday.

The Hurl made all over two and a half miles to beat Quietly Fancied by a length and a half in the Grade Two 'Monksfield' Novice Hurdle.

"There's not a bother on him. He did it well over the longer trip and he could be decent," said Co Tipperary trainer Morris. "He'll probably run over Christmas in one of the novices in Leopardstown."

Dessie Hughes hopes his luck holds now that he has two horses -- Vic Venturi and Black Apalachi -- as serious contenders for April's John Smith's Grand National.

Vic Venturi jumped his way to prominence for the Aintree spectacular by defying the steadier of 11st 12lb in the Becher Chase last Sunday.

Black Apalachi, winner of that race last year only to unseat his rider in the big event itself, was already high in the ante-post market for the National. Both horses are a top-priced 25/1.

"They might run over hurdles before the National unless I can find a conditions chase for them," said the Co Kildare trainer.