Denman (horse)

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Denman
Sire Presenting
Grandsire Mtoto
Dam Polly Puttens
Damsire Pollerton
Sex Gelding
Foaled 2000
Country Ireland Flag of Ireland
Colour Chestnut
Breeder Colman O'Flynn
Owner Paul Barber & Maggie Findlay
Trainer Paul Nicholls
Record 14: 13-1-0
Earnings £677,114
Major Racing Wins, Awards and Honours
Major Racing Wins
Challow Novices' Hurdle (January 2006)
Berkshire Novices' Chase (2006)
Royal & SunAlliance Chase (2007)
Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup (2007)
Lexus Chase (2007)
Aon Chase (2008)
Cheltenham Gold Cup (2008)
Infobox last updated on: March 18, 2008.

Denman (foaled April 17, 2000) is an Irish bred National Hunt racehorse sired by Presenting.

Denman was bred in County Cork by Colman O'Flynn who also bred his Grade One winning stablemate half brother Silverburn. Denman was trained to win his point to point in Ireland by former champion jockey Adrian Maguire before being sold to leading British owner Paul Barber and legendary punter Harry Findlay.

Transferred to Paul Nicholls, Denman began his career under rules with two promising if unspectacular novice hurdle victories at Nicholl's local track Wincanton. Denman then burst to life with an outstanding 21 length victory in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle that was transferred from Newbury to Cheltenham, slamming useful horses such as Boychuk and Ungaro under stable jockey Ruby Walsh.

After an easy novice hurdle victory at Bangor attentions moved on to the Cheltenham Festival for the Grade 1 Royal and Sun Alliance Novice Hurdle where despite a strong field he was sent off a strong 11/10 favourite. Unfortunately he ran a little free and found the Noel Meade trained Nicanor and an inspired Paul Carberry 2 1/2l too hot to handle.

Denman was immediately put away for the winter and all attentions were switched to his novice chasing campaign the next season. Denman won his first four novice chases by a combined total of 59 1/2l jumping beautifully throughout. The Jonjo O'Neill trained Don't Push It and Tony McCoy was the only horse to seriously threthen Denman getting to within 3/4l of him after a furious battle up the Cheltenham hill. Most observers felt that Don't Push It was certainly a little flattered to get as close as he did and so this was the case.

For a second season in a row Denman started a warm favourite for his Cheltenham Festival target. His connections resisted the temptation of putting him in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and settled for the Royal and Sun Alliance Novices Chase which he was sent off at odds of 6/5. Denman and Ruby Walsh never gave punters a moments worry going on from Aces Four at the fourth last fence and storming 10len clear of Irish novice Snowy Morning giving an exhibition of jumping not seen from a novice in years. He was immediately installed as 4/1 2nd favourite behind his stablemate and the Gold Cup winner Kauto Star for the 2008 Gold Cup. He was put away for the season.

Denman's early season target was the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury on the first Saturday of December. Paul Nicholls was unable to get a prep run into him because of the ground throughout the country leading up to the race. Denman's task was huge having to give at least a stone to his rivals in the long handicap racing of a rating of 161. He was also united with a new jockey in Sam Thomas for the first time with Ruby Walsh dislocating his shoulder in a fall at Cheltenham two weeks previously. What happened next was bordering on unbelievable.

Sent off at odds of 6/1 2nd fav, Denman tracked the leaders early on before being sent on at the water jump by Sam Thomas. From then on it was a procession as Denman cruised 12l clear of Dream Alliance who was in receipt of 18 lb weight. Immediately Denman was cut into 6/4 jf with his illustrious stablemate and the countdown to the most anticipated Gold Cup showdown since 1964, when Arkle defeated Mill House, began.

After a smooth victory at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival in the Grade One Lexus Chase where he defeated a strong field including Grade one winners The Listener and Beef or Salmon, and a facile 20l victory in the four runner Grade Two Aon Chase Denman was ready for the big showdown with Kauto Star.

By this stage after an agonising decision, Paul Nicholls stable jockey Ruby Walsh had chosen to desert Denman and stay loyal to defending champion Kauto Star in the big race. Sam Thomas was booked for the ride on Denman. Kauto Star had an interrupted preparation but Paul Nicholls was confident that both horses were 100% ready. Opinion throughout England and Ireland was divided on the race and even Ruby Walsh confessed to not being certain.

Twelve horses went to post for the big race but in most peoples eyes only the protagonists were to count. Kauto Star was sent off a well backed 10/11 favourite with Denman drifting slightly on the day to 9/4.

As the tapes rose Denman was content to track another stablemate Neptune Collognes in 2nd with Kauto Star sitting 5l further back in 4th. The race was run at an honest gallop with Denman moving on at the 12th fence. The pace increased a notch and Kauto's jumping was put to the test. He was unable to jump as fluently as Denman and as they approached the 4th last Ruby Walsh was already sending out some distress signals.

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