Denman Exclusive: Operation for Gold Cup hopeful

Paul sends Gold Cup joint third favourite to specialists for treatment. Full details here

Before the countdown to the Cheltenham Festival begins in earnest, I thought I would update you on the fact that Denman had a soft palate operation after his third in the Hennessy.

Obviously, there was no disgrace in finishing just over 15 lengths third to Diamond Harry at Newbury, giving that very talented rival 26lb.

In fact, Denman got the biggest applause in the paddock after the race, after going head-to-head with the winner for so long, before the weight finally told.

It was a tremendously brave and pleasing performance, and probably not one that far off his 2008/09 best.

So why did we see fit to give him the operation?

Well, in last year's Gold Cup and the Hennessy I didn't think he was finishing the races as well as he could.

Before Denman first ran in Ireland, he had a hobday operation but he didn't have his soft palate cauterised.

So we had that done a week after the Hennessy, and I just hope that it will improve him slightly and allow him to finish off his races a little better.

I am telling you now because we will obviously be stepping up his work in the coming fortnight, and now is the best time to keep Betfair customers - and punters in general - informed.

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Paul Nicholls / 19 Feb 2011