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Denman by a long way, but then if that happened everyone would say the others had an ‘off day’.
By some way the finest chaser I’ve ever seen; he’d have been the next Arkle but for the heart problems that disrupted him at the peak of his career.
To run the race he did on Friday on ground much to fast surely cements his place as one of the very best in chasing history.
And Friday’s race also demonstrates just what a fine group of chasers those from the late 2000s were. Exotic Dancer, for example, would have picked the likes of Best Mate up and carried him in my opinion!
I accept that no-one is going to agree with the following sentiments but…
I still think Denman can win another Gold Cup. His performance in the Hennessy last year was as good as anything seen over fences all season but he’s obviously an incredibly difficult horse to train.
For the second year in a row, he made it to the Gold Cup surrounded by dreadful vibes (apart from the fall at Newbury the rumours had been that he had been working poorly) yet again raised his game to put in another smart effort.
Fair enough, he has more than his share of quirks, but anyone who saw the race at Punchestown has to admit that he must still have some engine to still have a chance at the last given how badly he handled the track.
He’ll never be the horse he could have been – I still think his 2008 Gold Cup rates as the best performance over fences of the last 20 years – but I just wonder if Nicholls will keep him for the Gold Cup instead of doing what everyone expects and running him in the Hennessy.
Will be interesting to see if Kauto Star does come back from a very heavy fall in the Gold Cup – if not maybe Denman will at last have the luxury of the stable jockey on his back on the big day.
2010 Gold Cup Result:
1st: Denman
Jumped well; prominent early, joined leader 11th, led 14th. 4l clear and going well 5 out, 12l clear after 3 out. Driven out.2nd: Kauto Star
Settled in 4th; mistake 12th and 14th; reminders 4 out. Blundered 3 out, stayed on gamely to hold 2nd run-in.3rd: Tricky Trickster
Mid-division. Pushed along half-way, stayed on from 3 out.Distances: 16l, 2l
Interesting how we all interpret things differently. I’ve watched the race several times now and am amazed that so many people think Denman was in trouble or a beaten horse when he made the mistake four out.
To my eyes, he was still travelling very well in himself – certainly best of all those in the race.
If McCoy was starting to niggle at him that shouldn’t be a major cause for concern; it’s not as though he’s a bridle horse is it? Quite the opposite in fact as he finds a lot for pressure. And if he were under pressure, it certainly wasn’t maximum nor had it been for anything more than a few strides before the mistake.
To my eyes he just lost concentration, made the mistake, and then took time to regain momentum before going out at the third last.
His jumping is a concern yes, but I don’t think his overall wellbeing should be. Provided his trainer can sort out his concentration/jumping I’m sure he’ll get to Cheltenham much closer to his best of 2008 than he did 12 months ago.
Some interesting views here. It’s worth watching the Hennessy again from the cross-fence to three out.
Of course, Denman is giving weight to these horses, but you’ll notice that at the fifth last it looks as though he’s about to pull away but then at the fourth last Niche Market, Barber’s Shop and co are back on his heels.
It’s only his jumps at that fence and the third last which really seal the fate of those rivals.
I just wonder if he’s getting a bit lazy – unlike in the Gold Cup of 2008, where he kept pouring it on even when he was on his own, does he wait to hear other horses near him before he responds again? In the Hennessy he seemed to ‘step up’ at least twice in the straight, once at the fourth last and then again when challenged at the last.
I went down to the second last yesterday and watched the race from there. Beforehand, a photographer friend mentioned that Denman would be jumping on the far side as Ruby liked to bring him a little wider in the straight owing to his tendency to lead on a particular foot (I think he said right – which seemed odd given his preference for left-handed tracks).
Anyway, this also got me thinking and it is interesting to notice that down the back straight in the Hennessy Denman was in the middle of the course.
This wasn’t the case under his new rider, who logically kept him close to the inside rail.
You’ve got to keep some perspective here. Horses can fall and have off days. The race reminded me a lot of Kauto Star’s UR in the Betfair Chase of 2008. Was this not a similar performance? Even if Kauto Star had won that he’d have scraped home against vastly inferior rivals, yet a month later he was back to his best.
No reason why Denman can’t do the same. He didn’t look a sick horse like he did at Kempton and he would probably have ground out a workmanlike victory, after which connections would have said he wasn’t 100% and the run would put him spot on.
Yes, his jumping is a concern and there should be some debate over whether a new rider is the right thing for him rather than someone who knows him really well like Sam Thomas. However, it’s not a disaster so long as he is back ok.
That’s my view.
Feel very sorry for Sam Thomas, who has done little wrong on Denman and looked after him beautifully in last year’s’Gold Cup.
But there’s’no reason why McCoy won’t get on perfectly well with the horse, he’s a supreme jumper after all.
The key part of the race will be from the start of the second circuit to the third last. Over that section, Denman will brutally expose any jumping flaws in his rivals.
By the time they turn in he’ll be beyond recall. 2008 was no fluke.
Explanation on ATR site:
"Editor’s note: We’ve had lots of emails regarding Hugh Taylor’s current whereabouts. Don’t worry, he’ll be back on attheraces.com in a few days – we felt he deserved a short break after registering his eighth consecutive month of profit."
Hon Kerr,
I see you are a new member on here. You haven’t recently left, or been asked to leave, another forum have you?
I’ve been assured this was a technical glitch that ought to be a one-off. The Windsor replays are online now and the rest will be there in the near future. Apologies for this (and to everyone else) – with the quantity of races we capture it just happens every now and again unfortunately.
I believe Joe Mercer’s brother, Manny, was killed after being thrown on his way to the start many years ago – probably 1960s I guess. There was also an amateur rider who died about 7 or 8 years ago after a heavy fall at Goodwood.
Fortunately, its a rare occurence now; presumably thanks to better safety measures including protective wear, safety limits and on-course medical staff.
Friendly Henry caught a bit of media attention as he ran in the National as a maiden – I think either 88 or 89 – and managed to finish sixth.
As I recall he was a son of the sprinter Be Friendly, so he got more than his fair share of favourable mentions from Peter O’Sullevan!
Most under-rated horse of all time?
Got to be L’Escargot.
Two Cheltenham Gold Cups.
Grand National
Irish NationalSo unfortunate to fall around the same era as a triple Gold Cup winner and a triple National winner.
I was pretty good as well. Won a National, second in a national, fourth in two Nationals, fell when in the lead in a National, 4th in a Gold Cup (beaten a short head for 3rd), 3rd to Sabin Du Loir and Dawn Run in the Sun Alliance Hurdle. Not bad for a plodder!
Atr are looking for someone to work on their website at the moment. The ad was in Saturday’s RP.
Thanks Ten Plus – I hadn’t discovered point-to-points in the days of Littleton. Don’t live up in the north-west any more, but still try to make it back for the odd point-to-point and have fond memories in particular of Alpraham (go racing there is like going back 80 years) and the unmatchable Flagg Moor.
Denman to come back as good as he was last season, and for him to slam them in the Gold Cup in the same manner and style he did in March.
He’s closest thing I’ve ever seen to the perfect steeplechaser.
I use Timeform Racecards but find the best thing to do is to download them online. That way you have time to study properly – I don’t think I’d have enough time to get full value out of them if I bought on course.
Ten Plus – interesting recollection of Ben Nevis. Was that in the days when the Cheshire Forest raced at Tatton Park?
