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Paul Nicholls: Don't forget about Denman!

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Amid all the excitement about stablemates such as Kauto Star and Master Minded, Denman has been out of the spotlight in recent months. But Paul insists there is plenty to come from 'the forgotten horse'...

It is not often that one of the best horses in recent decades slips under the radar. But does anyone remember a horse called Denman?

You may vaguely recall him. Big sort, who we have had a bit of luck with since he joined us in 2005 after winning his sole start in an Irish point.

Yes, that's the one. The 10-length winner of the Sun Alliance in 2007; the Hennessy winner in 2007 and 2009 who managed to squeeze in a seven-length defeat of Kauto Star in the 2008 Gold Cup in between. And runner-up in two other Cheltenham Gold Cups besides.

But how many calls have I taken about him this season? I am struggling to recall one outside of the usual stable tour visits.

I know we have been fortunate enough to enjoy success after success on big Saturdays this season, with Kauto Star, Big Buck's, Master Minded and any number of potential stars beginning to show their hand.

But I am still a touch surprised at how Denman has failed to attract any column inches.

That actually suits me just fine after the "should he, shouldn't he?" nonsense with Kauto before his win in the Betfair Chase. But I can tell you that the "Forgotten Horse", as I shall call him for now, is in great order as we prepare him for the Lexus at Leopardstown on December 28.

Rather like Kauto Star, I suspect that too many people remember Denman for his disappointing sign-off to last season, in his case at Aintree. But focus on his Newbury run - leading him in after the race there, you would have sworn he had won his third Hennessy, not finished third - or his second in the Gold Cup, and then we are talking.

And talking that he looks seriously big price at 26 on Betfair for the Gold Cup next March.

We saw how Kauto Star's Gold Cup price plummeted after the Betfair Chase, and I can tell you now that Denman will be as fit at Leopardstown at the end of the month as Kauto was at Haydock. He will be 100%. It would be asking him too much to win in the manner Kauto did, but this horse is not to be dismissed lightly in any company, even at 11.

Put it this way, I would like to see someone go in his box and tell him, anyway!

Susie May looks after him this season and is doing a great job. He goes well for a girl, and is certainly not the easiest to handle as he can be a very awkward so-and-so.

We took him for a racecourse gallop this morning - he will have another in a fortnight's time - and he went really, really well. He went 2m under Daryl in company with Tidal Bay (Nick Scholfield) and Noland (Harry Skelton), and looked great.

And now we will put some real hard graft into him, stoking the work into him, and he can take it, too.

He will have two or three canters up the hill every day apart from Sunday, as well as an hour and an quarter on the walker each day. As well as regular fast work too.

He came in with Kauto a fortnight after everything else, on August 1, and was as fat as a pig. But he knows he isn't on holiday any more, and is getting meaner and leaner. But he is thriving on the work and his appetite for the job is still readily apparent.

So the Lexus, a race he won in 2007 before winning the Gold Cup that season, is the plan and then straight to Cheltenham.

I have always said that I hope Kauto Star and Denman, the best of friends, will spend their retirement together in a field somewhere. And I have always said that when they do retire, I will make a comeback in the saddle to take Denman hunting, with Ruby on Kauto. But that is hopefully a long way off just yet.

Because the last thing that Denman would want is for his great mate to be solely in the Gold Cup limelight, without getting a look-in of his own.

And what a sign off it would be were he turn up again Cheltenham in March.

Forgotten for the time being maybe. But certainly not gone - not just yet.

Paul Nicholls / 2 Dec 2011

Paul Nicholls: Don't forget about Denman!

Latest News RSS / / 02 December 2011 / 4

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Denman is 'a seriously big price' at 26 for the Gold Cup, according to Paul Nicholls

Denman is 'a seriously big price' at 26 for the Gold Cup, according to Paul Nicholls

"We saw how Kauto Star’s Gold Cup price plummeted after the Betfair Chase, and I can tell you now that Denman will be as fit at Leopardstown at the end of the month as Kauto was at Haydock."

Amid all the excitement about stablemates such as Kauto Star and Master Minded, Denman has been out of the spotlight in recent months. But Paul insists there is plenty to come from 'the forgotten horse'...

It is not often that one of the best horses in recent decades slips under the radar. But does anyone remember a horse called Denman?

You may vaguely recall him. Big sort, who we have had a bit of luck with since he joined us in 2005 after winning his sole start in an Irish point.

Yes, that's the one. The 10-length winner of the Sun Alliance in 2007; the Hennessy winner in 2007 and 2009 who managed to squeeze in a seven-length defeat of Kauto Star in the 2008 Gold Cup in between. And runner-up in two other Cheltenham Gold Cups besides.

But how many calls have I taken about him this season? I am struggling to recall one outside of the usual stable tour visits.

I know we have been fortunate enough to enjoy success after success on big Saturdays this season, with Kauto Star, Big Buck's, Master Minded and any number of potential stars beginning to show their hand.

But I am still a touch surprised at how Denman has failed to attract any column inches.

That actually suits me just fine after the "should he, shouldn't he?" nonsense with Kauto before his win in the Betfair Chase. But I can tell you that the "Forgotten Horse", as I shall call him for now, is in great order as we prepare him for the Lexus at Leopardstown on December 28.

Rather like Kauto Star, I suspect that too many people remember Denman for his disappointing sign-off to last season, in his case at Aintree. But focus on his Newbury run - leading him in after the race there, you would have sworn he had won his third Hennessy, not finished third - or his second in the Gold Cup, and then we are talking.

And talking that he looks seriously big price at 26 on Betfair for the Gold Cup next March.

We saw how Kauto Star's Gold Cup price plummeted after the Betfair Chase, and I can tell you now that Denman will be as fit at Leopardstown at the end of the month as Kauto was at Haydock. He will be 100%. It would be asking him too much to win in the manner Kauto did, but this horse is not to be dismissed lightly in any company, even at 11.

Put it this way, I would like to see someone go in his box and tell him, anyway!

Susie May looks after him this season and is doing a great job. He goes well for a girl, and is certainly not the easiest to handle as he can be a very awkward so-and-so.

We took him for a racecourse gallop this morning - he will have another in a fortnight's time - and he went really, really well. He went 2m under Daryl in company with Tidal Bay (Nick Scholfield) and Noland (Harry Skelton), and looked great.

And now we will put some real hard graft into him, stoking the work into him, and he can take it, too.

He will have two or three canters up the hill every day apart from Sunday, as well as an hour and an quarter on the walker each day. As well as regular fast work too.

He came in with Kauto a fortnight after everything else, on August 1, and was as fat as a pig. But he knows he isn't on holiday any more, and is getting meaner and leaner. But he is thriving on the work and his appetite for the job is still readily apparent.

So the Lexus, a race he won in 2007 before winning the Gold Cup that season, is the plan and then straight to Cheltenham.

I have always said that I hope Kauto Star and Denman, the best of friends, will spend their retirement together in a field somewhere. And I have always said that when they do retire, I will make a comeback in the saddle to take Denman hunting, with Ruby on Kauto. But that is hopefully a long way off just yet.

Because the last thing that Denman would want is for his great mate to be solely in the Gold Cup limelight, without getting a look-in of his own.

And what a sign off it would be were he turn up again Cheltenham in March.

Forgotten for the time being maybe. But certainly not gone - not just yet.

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  1. Dan | 02 December 2011

    Paul Nicholls and Ruby Walsh going hunting on Denman and Kauto Star - wow. I cannot think of anything more epic than that.

  2. Kevin | 02 December 2011

    Brilliant piece on Denman letting everyone know how the tank is getting on. I will be at Leopardstown for the Lexus purely because Denman is going to be there. Its great to have him back in Ireland.

  3. steve | 03 December 2011

    Forget about denman NEVER as his picture hangs proudley on my wall winning the gold cup and doing to kauto what kauto did to long run, and one thing is for sure put denman and long run in a race at cheltenham both aged 8 and long run would be beaten up

  4. Simon | 03 December 2011

    Loved your article on Denman, Paul. A real insight into what you think of the forgotten horse. Lets hope Denmania hits Cheltenham come march. And best of luck with all your string of horses for the rest of the season.

    Simon from ireland