Fresh Ayr for Denman

WHEN HE first burst upon the racing scene, there was only one adjective that suited Denman – mighty. This dark giant of a steeplechaser trained in Somerset by champion trainer Paul Nicholls sprang to prominence in winning the Royal and Sun Alliance Novices Chase with a brilliant round of jumping at the 2007 Cheltenham Festival.

Later that year, Denman produced one of the greatest weight-carrying performances of the age, winning the Hennessy Gold Cup in a procession while conceding at least a stone to his rivals. It was breathtaking stuff, and a championship clash with stablemate Kauto Star, winner of that year's Cheltenham Gold Cup, became inevitable.

In the parade ring before the Gold Cup the following year, all eyes were on Denman and Kauto Star as they prepared for what would be an epic clash. Spectators could see that in the flesh, a toned and muscle-rippling Denman was much the more impressive animal.

So it proved in the race, with Denman beating Star by seven lengths. The race took too much out of Denman, however, and he turned out to have a heart fibrillation problem. Many racing pundits, including myself, doubted we would ever see him on the track again, but in one of the all-time great training feats, Nicholls brought Denman back to finish second to Kauto Star in last year's Gold Cup, and then last November "The Tank", as Denman has been nicknamed, defied the weight of history and the handicapper to win the Hennessy again in quite thrilling fashion. His second to Imperial Commander in last month's Gold Cup was another valiant effort, and next Saturday, barring a heatwave of Saharan proportions, Scottish racegoers will get the chance to see Denman for themselves. Part-owner Harry Findlay, professional gambler and proud son of Scottish parents, confirmed that he and co-owner Paul Barber would bring Denman to Ayr for the Coral Scottish Grand National.

"Paul and I are really keen," said Findlay, "and even down here in Bath where I stay we know that a lot of people in Scotland would love to see Denman at Ayr.

"That's a real carrot for Paul. He would be a proud man to take Denman up to Ayr and that's what he wants to do. I would presume that Ruby Walsh will be on board as he is the stable jockey, and he will be on other good things that the stable will have at Ayr."

Walsh has consistently chosen Kauto Star over Denman so if the pair make it to Ayr, it will be a rare chance to see two genuine racing superstars in partnership north of the Border. Arguably the last time that such a celebrated horse raced at Ayr was in 1974 when Red Rum came to the Craigie course three weeks after his second Grand National victory and won the Scottish National off top weight, a feat that is commemorated by a statue of Rummie near Ayr's parade ring.

"It was an amazing achievement for Paul Nicholls to get Denman back to his best again," said Findlay, "and I just felt in hindsight that if he had gone a bit quicker in the Gold Cup then it might have been a lot closer.

"But it wasn't the same punishing race as when he won it, and that has helped us with the Scottish National because if had been a similarly hard race he might not have been lining up at Ayr, so I'm not too regretful. However he runs in the race, I think people will be impressed just to see him in the paddock, and I'm sure there will be a good atmosphere around the place."

Findlay's ownership of horses is carried out through his mother, Mrs Margaret Findlay, who was desperately unlucky not to see a Scottish National winner in her colours when Ladalko, also trained by Nicholls and ridden by Walsh, was beaten by just a short head by 33-1 shot Run For Paddy in 2006.

"My mum is a retired nurse originally from Glasgow," said Findlay, "and the reason I first bought horses with Paul Barber was to give her a bit of a hobby in her retirement.

"It was basically just to have a few horses to run at Newton Abbot and Taunton and get her out of the house, but it snowballed from there and now if we could win the Scottish National with Denman it would be great for both her and me.

"I have had a bad run recently, and my mum has been juggling the bills for me, but that makes it even more exciting – she may be in her seventies but she's really on her toes. It's even more fun to win when you're struggling."

Findlay did have a warning for all those looking to back Denman early: wait until he is declared to be a certain runner before putting the money down.

"Denman is also entered for the Punchestown Gold Cup," said Findlay, "and if the sun bakes the ground like a road at Ayr he might have to go to Ireland. He will need a bit of give in the ground at Ayr and good to soft would be perfect for him."

According to the Ayr executive, the ground at Ayr yesterday was exactly good to soft and with good weather forecast, there's every chance Denman will get his ground with some judicious watering.

Lucinda Russell's Silver By Nature, owned by St Johnstone FC chairman Geoff Brown, is rated 26lbs inferior to Denman but has been trained for the race and is the main danger. But Denman should get the four-mile distance and jump everything else into the ground for what should be a famous win.