Barber: No McCoy Denman deal

Paul Barber has quashed speculation Tony McCoy has been booked to ride Denman in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The whispers have been getting stronger all week that McCoy will ride the current champion and he is odds-on favourite with the bookmakers to get the job.

However, part-owner Barber insists there is still a chance that Sam Thomas, who partnered him 11 months ago to the biggest win of his career, could be on board again.

“It’s not out of the equation,” said Barber.

“He (Thomas) did go through a shaky period but if he continues to improve he’ll be there, Tony McCoy is around and if you want the best jockey you’ve got him, you’ve got Ruby Walsh to chose from, any of these people (could ride him).

“There has ben no deal made with anybody and there won’t be until he runs etc etc.

“For him (McCoy) to be 5-2 on is ridiculous, somebody could break their leg tomorrow, the horse could have a sneeze the next day and you’ve lost all your money.

“I don’t bet, I’m not as daft as some,” he told At The Races.

Denman is due to make his eagerly-awaited reappearance after a heart problem in Newbury’s Aon Chase on Saturday if the meeting survives an 8am inspection tomorrow.