Denman’s epic effort in winning a second Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury was officially “something special”. The Paul Nicholls-trained nine-year-old defied last season’s well-documented health problems and a welter burden to beat stablemate What A Friend in great style – off a 13lb higher mark than his 2007 effort.British Horseracing Authority senior handicapper Phil Smith is in no doubt as to the merit of the performance.
Denman Officially back to his best
He said: “That was something special – he’s only the third ever horse to win two Hennessy Gold Cups and, along with Arkle, one of just two to win it off top weight twice. He’s definitely up there with the greats. When he won the Gold Cup, I had him on 182 but I dropped him 8lb for his three runs last year of which the best run was the Gold Cup, but it wasn’t anywhere near what he’d done the previous year. I’ll almost certainly use Niche Market and Barbers Shop as marker horses who’ve both run their race.
“They’ll stay on their ratings for this race, Niche Market on 145 and Barbers Shop off 156. There’s three and three-quarter lengths between those two and What a Friend, so I’ll probably raise What A Friend 4lb to 156. It’s then another three and a half lengths to Denman, so he’ll go up the same 4lb as What A Friend. Then it’s just a question of what I call the three and a half lengths, which if I say 4lb, it takes him back to his Gold Cup-winning rating of 182.
“He ran off 174 at Newbury so he’s back to his best. Kauto Star is on 186 and after the Betfair Chase we’ve got Imperial Commander in the mix on an official rating of 174. If they all make it to Cheltenham, the Gold Cup should be a fantastic contest.”
