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Gold Cup Betting: Sandown showdown for Kauto and Denman owners

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Smith confident of second Betfair Million but Findlay bullish about Denman

Betfair Million winner Kauto Star and his Paul Nicholls-trained stable companion Denman go head-to-head in a clash of the heavyweights in the Cheltenham Gold Cup on March 14 and the leading betting exchange Betfair brought owners Clive Smith and Harry Findlay face to face for some friendly sparring at Sandown Park today.

Smith has enjoyed remarkable success with Kauto Star, who, after winning the magnificent Betfair Million last season, courtesy of victories in the Betfair Chase, the King George VI Chase and Gold Cup, is primed to complete the same hat-trick next week and carry off another huge Betfair windfall.

The Betfair Million, the biggest bonus ever seen in jump racing, is awarded to the horse that can win the £200,000 Betfair Chase at Haydock Park in November, Kempton Park's King George VI Chase or the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown during the Christmas period and the Cheltenham Gold Cup .

If Kauto Star wins a week today, Smith stands to collect £700,000 Betfair Million, with £100,000 going to the trainer, £100,000 to the winning jockey(s) and £100,000 split between the successful yard's stable staff.

Findlay, who owns Denman in partnership with Nicholls' landlord Paul Barber, is hoping his star, Denman, unbeaten in eight starts over fences, including a breathtaking victory under top-weight in the Grade Three Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury in November and a relentless front-running triumph in the Grade One Lexus Chase at Leopardstown in December, can land a knock-out blow in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The Kauto Star/Denman clash is being billed as the biggest Gold Cup face-off since 1964, when the great Arkle lowered the colours of the brilliant Mill House and, with Kauto Star chasing the Betfair Million for a second time, the stakes are high.

Smith, while an admirer of Denman, has no doubts as to the destiny of the 2008 Gold Cup.

He stated: "I think we can beat Denman and we will beat Denman. As Frankie Dettori summed it up (recently), he thinks that we have the class act. I think we can quell once and forever this Denman upstart."

The owner also reported that a second Betfair Million has been on the agenda since the eight-year-old's victory in a thrilling renewal of the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November.

Smith said: "The plan was always to go for the Betfair Chase at Haydock and you've got to win that to be in it. We went for the race and hoped we'd be good enough to win.

"The ground went against us a bit but I thought that was one of his very best races, to win on going that he didn't like particularly.

"Having won a second Betfair Chase, we started focusing on the Betfair Million again. Then it was on to Kempton for the King George VI Chase and that victory really put the focus on the bonus.

"I really want to win the Gold Cup again for the horse. He deserves to win it, not me. It would be great if he could win because the Betfair Million would be spread around again. Paul Nicholls gets £100,000 and we will sort something out with Ruby (Walsh) and Sam (Thomas). Of course, the stable gets £100,000 and it would be great for the lads and lasses there.

"It would be tremendous if he could win at Cheltenham because it would stamp him as one of the very best of all time and right up there, perhaps, with Arkle. But he's got to win it - it's going to be a great race - and I think he will win it."

Smith is of the opinion that Kauto Star is a better horse this year and is in peak condition following his victory in the Grade One Commercial First Ascot Chase on February 18, which was his 11th success from 15 starts over fences in Britain.

He added: "Clifford Baker (Nicholls' head lad) always said last year that Kauto Star would improve 7lb for this season, so if he's 7lb better than when he won the Gold Cup last year then he's some horse.

"He looks better than ever and his performances in the King George and at Ascot show that he's spot on. I think Ruby will be able to lay up alongside or maybe a little behind and then we can take Denman in the straight."

The ebullient Findlay is equally confident about the chances of Denman, who was successful at last year's Festival in the Grade One Royal & SunAlliance Chase. The front-running eight-year-old's only defeat in 13 starts came in the Grade One Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle at the 2006 Festival.

Findlay, a self-proclaimed fan of Kauto Star, opined: "There's a lot of talk about a close finish and a real struggle but I don't quite see it that way. I think that if Kauto Star beats us he'll probably take us between the last two (fences).

"Everyone says no-one has won the Gold Cup from the front and it's the last thing you want to do, but there's never been a Denman before.

"These are two completely different types of horse with two completely different styles of running. Someone who knows nothing about racing can tune into the Gold Cup two minutes before the race and know what's going to happen. The tank (Denman) is going to be there and, as Clive says, the Maserati (Kauto Star) is going to come at us. That is going to happen.

"Denman is going to come down the hill in front, Kauto Star is going to come at us. If he does it on the bridle and if he stays, he will go past us. If he doesn't, and it comes to war, Denman will crush him.

"To beat a real sporting champion you normally have to break them and I think that's what we will have to do with Kauto Star. I think we'll really have to find that chink in his staying armour."

Findlay and Smith differ as to the odds they feel their horses should be for Gold Cup victory.

Findlay said: "I make it 5/4 each of two", while Smith commented:"We deserve to be favourite, so perhaps we should just shade favouritism."