Denman comeback on hold

Denman is set to undergo tests after the Cheltenham Gold Cup winner was found to be suffering from an irregular heartbeat.

Trainer Paul Nicholls has virtually ruled out Newbury’s Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup on November 29 as a possible starting point for the eight-year-old and a Christmas return appears more likely.

He said: “I’ve not been happy with Denman ever since he came back into work in mid-July.

“He’s been very lethargic, not looking good and he lost a bit of weight rapidly, so we had him examined by Geoff Land and Buffy Shirley-Bevan, our vet.

“They found he is suffering from an irregular heartbeat, so he’ll go to Newmarket next week for further examination and treatment,” he told the Racing Post.

Denman is the 4-5 favourite with totesport for next year’s Gold Cup following his seven-length beating of stablemate and previous winner Kauto Star in last season’s blue riband event.