Denman to run in the Hennessey!

[bowles10]

from Sporting life today Paul Nicholls will give Denman a racecourse gallop at Exeter on November 10 as part of the 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner's preparation to try to regain his Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup crown. Last winter was a virtual write off for the nine-year-old after he was found to be suffering from a heart irregularity. However, he bounced back to life to chase home stablemate Kauto Star in the totesport-sponsored blue riband, and is likely to again bid to successfully carry top weight in the Hennessy on November 28. Nicholls said: "He looks amazing compared to this time last year after he had his heart problem. "His heart has been tested and is 100% normal, and I think he is as he was before winning the Gold Cup two years ago. "I will give him a racecourse gallop at Exeter on November 10, when he will open a bar named after him, and the Hennessy is favourite for his first race of the season. "The Betfair Chase at Haydock is there as a back up, and I suspect that he will travel to Ireland again over Christmas." Following the Lexus Chase, Denman can look forward to a third clash with stablemate Kauto Star in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, in which the score stands at one all. Its a bit of a surprise to see Denman going for this race. He loves Newbury & has an outstanding record there. Wonder if Nicholls has a lesser known horse entered also with a low weight?

[fintron]

Re: Denman to run in the Hennessey! I'm looking forward to seeing Denman up against Madison du Berlais this season. No doubt all of the hype eminating from the Nicholls yard will shorten the already likely short odds on the Nicholls runner and allow a tasty price on the Scudamore rival. On a flat track I know who I will be backing!!

[Blair Boy]

Re: Denman to run in the Hennessey! Shall be looking forward to seeing him back and hope he has a better season ahead of him than last.

[Trendsman]

Re: Denman to run in the Hennessey! A great horse and will pick up races this year, but in competative Grade 1's off his mark of 181 i think he is probably now of a mark that will hamper him this forth coming year to win big races..we will see

[mileni4uk]

Re: Denman to run in the Hennessey! They will just go the same route they did 2 years ago. Very happy with this. As for Denman on flat tracks. No problem with them, he just needs to go left handed and make it a test of stamina. Then even Madison Du Berlais won't beat him ;)

[fintron]

Re: Denman to run in the Hennessey!

They will just go the same route they did 2 years ago. Very happy with this. As for Denman on flat tracks. No problem with them' date=' he just needs to go left handed and make it a test of stamina. Then even Madison Du Berlais won't beat him ;)[/quote'] It certainly shapes up to be an interesting battle and is the thing I am most looking forward to for the new NH season. The Denman of 2007 would undoubtedly give the Pipe runner more of a race than the sicknote animal of 2008 did. If Denman is really back to his best then I wouldn't be at all surprised to see the form reversed, but a lot of hot air bellows out of Ditcheat and its hard to tell if Denman really is back to his best. They said he was before didnt they, but he was still beaten. I do like all of the hype surrounding Nicholls yard though, for value punters it is a dream because a lot of people will buy into it and the odds on the field are then over generous. Madison du Berlais has been a reformed animal since Pipe discovered cheekpieces and when they first clash I am almost certainly gonna stick with him until I have seen with my own eyes that Denman is back to his best.

[mileni4uk]

Re: Denman to run in the Hennessey! Madison is the perfect horse for the National if you have someone like Denman taking the top weight :ok