Denman

Denman is a retired national hunt racehorse who famously won the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the blue riband event on the national hunt calendar.

Trained by Paul Nicholls in the UK, the former French recruit also won the Hennessy Gold Cup twice, the second time he had to carry top weight of 11-12 at Newbury.

The chestnut gelding's first race in the UK came at Wincanton on October 23, 2005. He was successful by just over a length ahead of Lyes Green after going off as the 5/6 favourite in a novices' hurdle contest.

After further wins at Wincanton, Cheltenham and Bangor, he went into the Cheltenham Festival in 2006 as the ante-post favourite for the Royal & Sunaliance Novices' Hurdle. Ruby Walsh teamed up with the market leader but he had to settle for second behind Nicanor, handing him the first defeat of his career.

The following season he returned as a chaser. He made the perfect start by scoring at Exeter over fences by 10 lengths. That started a run of five victories during his campaign where he finished with a 100% record. He was successful in the RSA Chase at Prestbury Park in the 2007 Festival. After leading following the third fence, he stretched clear from his rivals for a 10 lengths victory.

In his second season as a chaser, he started off by winning the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury. He had to do so off 11-12 in one of the most prestigious handicaps in national hunt racing. 

On December 28, 2007, Denman stretched his winning streak over fences by landing the Lexus Chase in Ireland at Leopardstown to enhance his claims ahead of the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The Hennessy winner went into the feature at the Festival in 2008 to take on the defending champion Kauto Star. It was deemed as one of the best match ups since the 1960s when Arkle came up against Mill House. Denman was able to get the better of his stablemate when going off at a starting price of 9/4.

Following the biggest success of his career, Denman had a heart problem that kept him off the racecourse for almost a year. On his return he was unable to continue his 100% record in chases. He did manage to win his second Hennessy Gold Cup in one of the performances in the history of the race in 2009 when beating What A Friend from top weight.

For all the latest Denman Betting Tips place check out betting.betfair