Heroic Denman sets up decider with Kauto Star

Published on Sunday 29 November 2009 21:48

DENMAN is on a collision course with stablemate Kauto Star at Cheltenham next March after his epic triumph in Saturday's Hennessy Gold Cup.

Paul Nicholls' hugely-popular chaser landed the Newbury feature under top weight two years ago and repeated the feat as the 11-4 favourite for Ruby Walsh.

Fellow Ditcheat inmate What A Friend challenged over the final fence but Denman went away again and was three and a half lengths clear at the line, with Niche Market and Barbers Shop filling the other placings.

Racing fans can now wet their lips in anticipation towards a third Gold Cup showdown between Denman and Kauto Star – with the score currently standing at 1-1.

An emotional Nicholls exclaimed: "I feel mighty proud of the horse. I knew we had him somewhere near his best in himself, but to go and do that and beat the horses who kept challenging him is awesome.

"For what he has been through to come back, what a Gold Cup it will be this year."

Denman followed up his 2007 Hennessy win with victory in Leopardstown's Lexus Chase, but connections will instead head straight for the Aon Chase in February.

Joint-owner Harry Findlay said yesterday: "We were thinking of going to Ireland (for the Lexus Chase) but we won't now he's won.

"It appears we'll go straight to the Aon and that suits us fine. It means one less race to worry about."

Walsh said: "For him to come back and do what he has done and for Kauto to win last week – they are two wonderful horses to keep racing on the pages for the right reasons. It is great to be riding the two of them."

Winner of the Supreme Novices' Hurdle in March, he was sent off at 25-1 for the Grade One event after being well beaten at Down Royal. However, he made Binocular and Solwhit, the two market leaders, look positively pedestrian as he weaved his way up the home straight under Davy Condon to beat Sublimity.