Cheltenham Betting / Chris Barnett / 28 February 2010 / Leave a comment

Chris Barnett can see 'The Tank' putting one over stablemate Kauto as the star pair return to Cheltenham for one more chapter in this great rivalry

"I expect AP to sit handy early on and then take command as they pass the packed grandstand with a circuit to go, eventually running his rivals into the ground from the front, to become only the second horse in history to re-gain his Gold Cup crown."

The highlight of any Cheltenham Festival is Friday's Gold Cup but this year surpasses any other as we have the two chasers who have captured the imagination of the sporting world competing head-to-head, again!

Yes, it is true, we have been there before, but this time they come to Cheltenham on the crest of media frenzy, seldom seen in the horseracing world over the past 50 years, and arguably, both with a major chance of winning jump racing's most prestigious trophy.

Denman won 'his' Gold Cup two years ago, thundering into the history books by beating his stable companion, and major rival, Kauto Star by a devastating seven lengths. Shortly after that, Denman was overcome by a potentially career ending heart problem.

History will show that his performance, coming second to Kauto Star in the 2009 renewal was indeed an amazing comeback for the then nine-year-old, but many people were left wondering if we had seen the best of the son of Presenting 12 months previously. A fall at the second last fence at Aintree the following month, left more questions than answers at the end of last season.

He came back this season as a horse with a reputation that had to be rebuilt. His bullying, gutsy, and dominant performance in this year's Hennessy at Newbury shot him back into the spotlight as a Gold Cup horse in one exhilarating performance! He gave another stable mate and pretender to the crown, What A Friend, no less than 22 pounds in weight and a three-and-a-half length beating in that race, dominating from the front, just as the 'old' Denman had in the past. The 'tank' was back and his victory was one of the best weight-carrying performances of the modern era. Nobody can deny him that in the history books.

It beautifully set up 'the duel' with Kauto for a third consecutive year, but the dream look to be shattered following his unseating of the champion jockey AP McCoy on his return to Newbury in February for the AON Chase. On the day, he made two jumping errors, but I believe that was due to Grand National hope, Niche Market trying to take him on at the head of the field for just about all of the three miles and the fact that his all conquering trainer Paul Nicholls had left a bit to work on with the Festival in mind.

Historically, Denman ([5.1] to win the Gold Cup) likes to run 'his' race from the front for the final mile-and-a-half and he couldn't do that at Newbury. It will be a different scenario at Cheltenham. I expect AP to sit handy early on and then take command as they pass the packed grandstand with a circuit to go, eventually running his rivals into the ground from the front to become only the second horse in history to re-gain his Gold Cup crown, at the expense of the only other horse to have done that, Kauto Star. Expect to see the dark green and white scarves held up high to proclaim Denman as the winner of the 2010 Cheltenham Gold Cup!

Tags: AON Chase, AP McCoy, Cheltenham Festival, Cheltenham Gold Cup, Denman, Gold Cup, Hennessy Gold Cup, Kauto Star