Hennessy Gold Cup Betting: Denman storms to second victory

Events / Maxliu / 28 November 2009 / 1

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"Denman now trades at [3.55] for the 2010 Cheltenham Gold Cup on Betfair, with Kauto Star the favourite at [3.05]."

Trainer speechless as top weight 2007 winner claims second Hennessy and mouth-watering Gold Cup showdown looms...

Denman produced one of the great performances in jump racing history to win the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury this afternoon.

From a starting price of [4.2] the Paul Nicholl's-trained top weight took the lead early on as he became only second horse to win two Hennessys.

It was a scintillating performance, which left Nicholl's speechless, although a close finish had looked to be on as What A Friend traded at [1.33] in running on Betfair when two furlongs out.

The runner-up, looked as though he had conserved enough energy to challenge Denman down the final straight but as Denman regained control of the race, What A Friend looked awkward and Ruby Walsh's mount stormed to victory.

Niche Market finished third with Barbers Shop in fourth.

Denman now trades at [3.55] for the 2010 Cheltenham Gold Cup on Betfair, with Kauto Star the favourite at [3.05].

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Keith Laybourn | 22 December 2009

Denman to me is the best horse we have seen since the days when Arkle, Flyingbolt and Mill House ( the three highest-rated Timeform NH horses) could give two stone, sometime three, away and still win against later Gold Cup winners. Had Denman not been suffering a heart condition for most of the last season I am convinced that he would have won the 2009 Cheltenham Gold Cup and his win in the Hennessey giving about 22 lbs away to the second, was truly 'awesome', to use a greatly over-used phrase. If he is fit I see him winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup 2010. He is not yet Flyingbolt, who once won by 30 lenghts giving three stone away, a Mill House or an Arkle - but he is good. Arkle, of course, still is rightly considered the best NH horse ever. I remember his Gallagher Gold Cuop win over three miles when he knocked something like 17 seconds off the old records, trotted in, and ,at equal weights, beat Mill House by moire than 30 lengths. Given a reasonable career without inury, though, Denman might be a Mill House in the making and might aspire towards the heights of Arkle.Denman for the Gold Cup.