Ruby set another big race triumph
Prior to the King George, Denman was joint favourite with his stable companion for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, but it will take something extraordinary today to see him rejoin Kauto Star at the head of that market.
Brilliant winner of the SunAlliance at the Festival in March, the selection stepped up on that performance in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury earlier this month.
Carrying top weight, the steadier of 11-12, Denman produced an awesome display of jumping and staying power to give Dream Alliance 19lbs and an 11 lengths beating.
The Listener, successful in this race a year ago, showed he’s at the top of his game right now when slamming Mansony by 19 lengths at Punchestown.
He will certainly make it interesting, along with the legendary Beef Or Salmon, State Of Play and the improving pair, Mossbank and L’Antartique.
Sweet Kiln is the nap choice to lead the opposition a merry dance in the woodies.com Christmas Hurdle.
She will strip at the peak of her powers, fresh from narrow defeats to Jazz Messenger at Navan and Aitmatov at Fairyhouse.
Callherwhatulike gets the nod to beat, arguably, a couple of horses with higher profiles in the Grade 1 Knight Frank Ganly Waters Novice Chase.
A more than useful hurdler, she has taken really well to this game, finishing second to Le Toscan at Cork and then making no mistake with a clear-cut success in a moderate heat at Clonmel.
At Limerick today row in with Bellflower Boy to defy top weight in the 18-runner Woodlands House Hotel Handicap Hurdle.
There was a lot to like about the way he went about his business when scoring at Thurles on Sunday and a mandatory 4lbs penalty doesn’t look enough to stop him going in again.
