Denman destroys rivals

Denman turned a Grade One contest into a procession as he destroyed his rivals in the stanjamesuk.com Challow Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The 5-2 favourite, trained by Paul Nicholls, disputed the lead for much of the way under Ruby Walsh.

And when his rider pushed him into a clear lead turning for home, Denman responded brilliantly and went further and further clear, beating The Cool Guy by an emphatic 21 lengths.

The winner idled slightly approaching the second-last but Walsh kept him up to his work and he sealed victory by sailing over the final flight.

The Cool Guy (7-2) plugged on for second while Boychuk (3-1), who had tracked the leaders from the middle of the field, never really looked like the winner and was three-quarters of a length back in third.