Paul Nicholls: Slow going for Denman but Zarkandar looks good

There's a host of news from Ditcheat where Denman's recovery is taking a little longer than expected but Zarkandar appears to be in fine fettle with a big race on the horizon

It is obviously very disappointing that Denman will not be able to parade before the race named in his honour at the "Betfair Super Saturday" meeting at Newbury on February 11.

Rest assured - if you pardon the pun - he will make a 100pc recovery from the torn tendon in his foreleg. It is just that it is taking longer than expected.

He has literally been stood in his box since the injury. Mainly because he is such a lively one that there is a very real danger that he would worsen the injury were we to lead him out each day.

But the aim is to allow the injury more time to settle down, and in about a fortnight's time we will start him on the walker.

It would have been great to show him to the public ahead of the Betfair Denman Chase (formerly the Aon) at Newbury but I am afraid that he simply won't be fit enough to travel.

I also have some good and bad news to report from elsewhere in the yard.

The bad news is that we have had to draw stumps with Quwetwo, famous for causing one of the biggest betting upsets in racing history when beating 1-14 shot Zaynar at Kelso two years ago. He is a giant of a horse and clearly very talented - at 17.2 hands, the tallest horse we have ever had in the yard - but he just couldn't stand training. I am sure he will now get the best of care.

But I have some good news for those who have already backed Zarkandar for the UK's richest handicap hurdle, The Betfair Hurdle, at Newbury on February 11.

The horse had his racecourse gallop this week, and went very nicely. So Newbury is now very much the plan.

Betfair have been pressing me for details of the gallop - without success!

Paul Nicholls / 20 Jan 2012