Denman in 'great order' following operation

Denman's owner Paul Barber believes the breathing operation he was given after the Hennessy Gold Cup has had a huge effect on his capability to recover from his races.

The ever-popular 11-year-old goes in search of only his second win since his Gold Cup success of 2008 in today's totesport Bowl at Aintree.

Incredibly, since that Cheltenham win he has finished second in the next three renewals, to Kauto Star, Imperial Commander and Long Run. He has not taken much racing in recent years with his campaign built around Cheltenham, but Barber is of the view the decision of Paul Nicholls to cauterise his palate has had the right influence on his ability to recover from his races.

Ruby Walsh, who has won seven of his nine races on Denman, is also back on board.

"It's amazing he's only won the one race since his Gold Cup given that he's run so many good races since then," said Barber. "The operation he had on his palate has made a huge difference to his breathing - at home and on the racecourse.

"Instead of taking three months to get over a race he bounced back from the Gold Cup in three days. I'm not saying he's going to win or anything but he's in great order, he looks in great order anyway.

"He fell at Aintree two years ago but he actually jumped a shadow from outside the wing, a few other horses have done it, but he was coming to get the leader. It wouldn't worry me going back to Aintree. Ruby is back too. If anybody thinks I'm being harsh on Sam (Thomas] we had an agreement back in September that he would ride whenever Ruby wasn't available and this is the first time Ruby has been available. Sam is fine with that."

Owner Andy Stewart admits the exploits of champion staying hurdler Big Buck's - also from Paul Nicholls powerful yard - have changed his life.

The Stewart Family's red, white and black colours are some of the most recognisable on a British racecourse and their fame has only increased as Big Buck's has continued to dominate his division.

He created history at Cheltenham last month when becoming the first horse to win three successive World Hurdles and victory in today's BGC Partners Liverpool Hurdle would match that record. Some horses find it tough to back up at Aintree after a hard run at the Festival, but Nicholls' charge has managed it for the last two years.

He even has a victory over fences to his name in the Mildmay Novices' Chase, although his chasing career famously came to an abrupt halt when he unseated Sam Thomas at the last in the 2008 Hennessy.

"He keeps on winning but he's going to get beaten one day," said Stewart. "When you look through his form he's beaten some good horses and some not so good horses.

"We're going to run Gwanako as well. We know he can't beat Big Buck's or Grands Crus or some of the others but with Lough Derg not there, we don't want them to dawdle."At Cheltenham, the rest thought the best way to get Big Buck's beat was to go slow early but it didn't work."