| Despite the 2010 Grand National not taking place | | | | his debut in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, with new |
| until April 10th 2010, bookmakers are already | | | | jockey Sam Thomas, due to Ruby Walsh's |
| taking ante-post odds on a large number of | | | | decision to stay loyal to defending champion and |
| entrants. Once of those in potential contention for | | | | fellow stable mate Kauto Star. With Paul Nicholls |
| the big win is Denman. | | | | confident that both of his horses were 100% fit |
| Foaled in April 2000 in County Cork, Ireland, | | | | and ready to win the race, speculation was rife as |
| Denman who was bred by Colman O'Flynn, has an | | | | to who would clinch it, so much so that even |
| illustrious family history. Sired by Presenting and | | | | Ruby Walsh was uncertain as to what the |
| brother to Grade One winning Silverburn, he was | | | | outcome would be. The race was close but |
| originally trained by former champion jockey | | | | Denman managed to edge out the win by a tight |
| Adrian Maguire. | | | | 7 lengths. |
| He was initially spotted by Tom O'Mahony who is | | | | Denman had a seasonal break in 2008/09 when |
| a scout for Paul Barber, the landlord of trainer Paul | | | | he required treatment for an irregular heartbeat, |
| Nicholls, at the Duhallow point-to-point races at | | | | and so didn't appear until Kempton Park in |
| Liscaroll, where he beat 16 fellow runners by 12 | | | | February, where he finished second. Hopes for his |
| lengths. | | | | next race, the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March, |
| He was soon taken under the wing of Paul Nicholls | | | | were not as high as the previous year as many |
| where he is most frequently ridden competitively | | | | feared that his heart problems had impacted his |
| by Ruby Walsh. This pairing has been | | | | performance and, to some extent, they were |
| phenomenally successful and started back in the | | | | right as he failed in his bid to retain his claim on |
| 2005/06 season. It was then that Denman won a | | | | the cup, finishing second behind Kauto Star. |
| 21 length victory at the Challow Hurdle. | | | | Speculation over his entry into the 2010 Grand |
| He followed this up the following season with four | | | | National is rife despite that there are still months |
| novice chase wins, and although he went in to the | | | | to go before any horses are going to be officially |
| Cheltenham Festival as a pre-race favourite, the | | | | declared. Added to this problem is the fact that |
| Nicholls contingent decided that he would be | | | | Paul Nicholls has announced that Denman's stable |
| entered into the Royal and Sun Alliance Novices | | | | mate, Tricky Trickster, is going to be his National |
| Chases as opposed to the Gold Cup. | | | | contender. |
| Clearly it was the right decision as he stole the | | | | However, this hasn't stopped the bookies from |
| show from Snowy Morning by a cool 10 lengths | | | | jumping on the back of his potential entry and |
| and exhibited incredible jumping not seen in a | | | | ante post odds are incredibly low given how far |
| novice for a long time previous. | | | | away this race is. Betfair have him as low as 24/1 |
| The following year, the 2007/08 season, he made | | | | to win! |