Muhammad Ali may have been famous for his razor-sharp one-liners but it was one of his deeper, more profound statements that came to mind when the sad news of Denman’s death, aged 18, emerged yesterday morning.

From Shergar and Arkle to Dawn Run and Beef Or Salmon, Ireland has had its fair share of brilliant racehorses.

Denman, the 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, died yesterday at the age of 18, trainer Paul Nicholls told Betfair.