Denman odds widen after tumble

DENMAN sensationally unseated his new rider Tony McCoy in his last race before the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Sent off as a hot 1-6 favourite in a field of six for the Aon Chase at Newbury yesterday, Denman looked to be in control turning into the straight.

However, the horse hit the fourth-last fence hard, where McCoy did well to stay in touch and then ploughed through the next, leaving the 14-times champion no chance of staying on board.

Denman's odds for the March 19 Gold Cup were swiftly pushed out to 3-1 from 2-1. Stable companion, titleholder and great rival Kauto Star hardened from 4-5 to 4-6 favourite.

Denman's errors seemed to leave the way clear for 25-1 chance Niche Market, who galloped clear only to be caught in the final strides by Ruby Walsh riding 8-1 second favourite Tricky Trickster, another stable companion of Denman's.

Ironically, Walsh would have been on Denman yesterday, but as he has opted to ride Kauto Star in the Gold Cup Denman's owners wanted McCoy to get to know the horse before the big day.

Kauto Star won the Gold Cup in 2007, but was dethroned in 2008 by Denman, who then lost the crown last March when Kauto Star became the first horse to regain the title.

Trainer Paul Nicholls, as stunned as anyone after Denman's lapses, said: "The main thing is Denman's 100 per cent okay. He's not distressed and he's not got a mark on him. He just made a mistake and then another and that was the end of it. It happens from time to time in racing. We'll get him back. We've been there before."

Tricky Trickster is now a 25-1 chance, from 50-1, for the Gold Cup but is seen as a better prospect for the Aintree Grand National in April. Bookmakers rate him the new 10-1 favourite.