Timeform Weekend Review: Denman's disappointing return leaves plenty of questions before Cheltenham

Weekend Review / Timeform / 09 February 2009 / Leave a Comment

Defeat was not expected for Paul Nicholls' Gold Cup winner who now trades at [5.8] for a repeat victory.

Denman's return to action on Saturday was the centre of attention on Kempton's eight-race card. The Gold Cup winner made his return in the Grade 2 Levy Board Chase, and left the overall impression that he hasn't returned in the same form as last season. His jumping was uncharacteristically sticky early on and he was in trouble four out, left behind soon after yet not running as if short on fitness. It'll be some effort by his stable to get him back to his best for Cheltenham in little over a month.

Elsewhere on the card, Hohlethelonely provided Venetia Williams with her fifth winner in two days when taking the opening conditional jockeys handicap hurdle. Pause And Clause gave a boost to Mad Max's form when easily winning the Calverts Carpets Novices' Hurdle for Emma Lavelle, whilst Bally Conn registered his fourth win for owner/trainer Martin Hill since leaving Henrietta Knight's care in April.

Saturdays all-weather action from Lingfield saw Kevin Ryan's Mutamared land his sixth win in his last seven starts when beating Qadar by a length in a six furlong handicap, whilst later on the card Formation continued his improvement for his current handler when winning the valuable William Hill Top Team Football Prices Handicap.

At Wolverhampton, Tim Vaughan's well bred Prairie Hawk put his Southwell flop behind him when winning the 13 furlong handicap with plenty in hand, looking one to keep the right side of. There was controversy in the final race when Michael Wigham's well-backed winner Here Comes Danny was referred to the BHA after the stewards deemed the horse to have shown marked improvement.

Sunday saw Chris Wall's Premio Loco win the most valuable race of the day at Kempton when successful in the Listed Ladybird Stakes, though talk of the Winter Derby is a concern on account of the longer trip.