Denman all the rage for Gold Cup repeat
Denman is even-money favourite with sponsors totesport to land the Cheltenham Gold Cup again next March after ripping the crown from his stablemate Kauto Star.
Paul Nicholls’ new kid on the block took up the running on the second circuit and the 9-4 shot powered over the final few fences to see off the 10-11 favourite by seven lengths.
Nicholls’ third string Neptune Collonges rallied for minor honours, in turn pulling nine lengths clear of Halcon Genelardais.
Nicholls said: “Your first win in a race is always the best and I’ll never forget See More Business winning in 1999, but it doesn’t get any better than saddling the one-two-three in the Gold Cup.
“Denman was awesome. He jumped and galloped and put Kauto on the back foot really. But Kauto will be back here and will win plenty more races.”
Denman’s win also resulted in a tidy profit for his part-owner Harry Findlay, who had backed the eight-year-old ante-post to win over £500,000.
The renowned gambler said: “We had to do what we had to do to break the champion.
“We’ve had to do everything to break Kauto Star’s heart and that’s what we’ve done.”
Nicholls was also on the mark as owner Andy Stewart belatedly ended his quest for a Cheltenham Festival winner when Celestial Halo repelled Franchoek in the JCB Triumph Hurdle.
The £68,424 first prize will make negligible difference to the bank balance of the multi-millionaire financier, but Stewart has spent vast sums in trying to reach the hallowed victory circle.
“All good things are worth waiting for,” said Stewart.
The Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle ended up being the most competitive of its kind at the meeting, with Fiveforthree rewarding trainer Willie Mullins’ decision to switch him from the Supreme at the 11th hour.
It was nip and tuck for the 7-1 winner as he squeezed home by a neck from Venalmar in a race in which Irish-trained runners occupied the first four places.
Mullins said: “He’ll go to Punchestown and will make a cracking chaser next season.”
There was a 20-1 shock in the inaugural David Nicholson Mares Hurdle in which Whiteoak and Jason Maguire inched home from Refinement in a race of contrasting fortunes.
After Chomba Womba weakened approaching the final flight Refinement took the lead up the final hill only to be nailed by the rallying Whiteoak.
Trainer Donald McCain was not entirely surprised by the result and said: “I’ve always thought a lot of her and she probably got there too soon because she only just does enough in front.”
Ferdy Murphy added to his cracking recent record at this meeting when Naiad Du Misselot landed the Coral Cup in a desperate finish with Kicks For Free.
Davy Russell’s mount obliged by a nose at 7-1 to the delight of his Middleham trainer, who will send his ace novice chasing next season.
Tiger Cry, runner-up in the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup two years ago, went one better to complete a double for Russell, while Robert Thornton and Alan King rounded off a good week’s work as 9-1 chance Nenuphar Collonges obliged in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.
Aintree chairman Lord Daresbury proudly raised the magnificent trophy for the Christie’s Foxhunter Chase after his son Ollie punched-out 33-1 chance Amicelli to hold Bon Accord.
And there was no get-out for the punters in the lucky last as 50-1 chance Silver Jaro took the Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle from the strong-finishing favourite Psycho.
