Denman

[bigs]

I was on Kauto, but oh my God... Denman just crushed the field! to him!!! Awesome Awesome!!! I was expecting head to head race in last furlong, but oh well!!!

[Football-Tipper]

Get in you beauty

[Woodie]

Totally class if I only Franchoek won then I'd be up on the day lol

Mental horse! class ride

[bowles10]

i was watching the race & saying stay within 4L Ruby, stay within 4l, when Denman turned it on, KS was about 12L behind, that was too far. KS didnt jump as fluently as it has before.

to Denman & also to Sam Thomas.

was on at 5's in an ante post yankee, but Franchoek cost me a few quid on that one.

[mileni4uk]

Monster!!

[mileni4uk]

God! Never had such a rush in my whole life! Still shaking! Wanted Denman to win so much, waited for the race whole year. Let's waste some money on the last 3 races from the won money thanks Denman

[Dodger]

Kauto Star backer, but that was some powerful performance by Denman.
Not quite the battle we hoped for...Kauto just wasn't up to it today.

[billyboy5678]

It was an awesome performance from denman. But it must be said Kauto hit far too many fences far more than average. I would have no problem suggesting that kauto can turn the form around in the future. Only just have to look at the proximity of neptune in 3rd to see this. Roll on part 2

[SteveO]

"He's not a horse, he' a machine. Chisel him down untill he is clean"

[Gingertipster]

Hmmmmmmm,

Don't like to be a kill joy, but it was not the quality performance I had hoped to see. Can not believe Neptunes improved that much. Kauto Star jumped as if his back was hurting. Exotic ran asthough not fit enough. Halcon was outpaced and did not run to form. So what are we left with?

HAving said all that, Harry was right, they went out and did what they had to do to beat Kauto. Terrific performance to have 1-2-3 by Nicholls.

Well done to Denman, connections and all that backed him.

Nicholls for BBC Sports Personality!

Ginge

[BH]

Harry promised it would run in the National next season, i do hope by winning the Gold Cup he doesnt change his plans.
Just heard the what the handicapper thought of todays race, he said Kauto ran 2lbs below best, i thought a bit more than that to be honest and now rates Denman in the 180's.

What some are forgetting is that Denman wasnt extended to his maximum, if Kauto had been closer i'm sure Denman would have found even more, and why did Kauto make so many errors, because he hasnt been put under that kind of pressure that often, give the winner the credit he deserves.

[mileni4uk]

Rated 185, mate!! I really hope to see him go for Grand National after 2nd gold cup win next year

[mileni4uk]

Watched the race twice more now relaxed and concentrated My thoughts are that Exotic Dancer was close to Kauto, but again couple of lengths away. Would have finished behind him as usual, but made a very bad mistake and weakaned after that. Neptune Collonges is now rated in the 170's if I heard the comentary right and rightly so. I don't think Kauto was below par that much, I think he made only one error. The way Neptune closed on him in the end is IMO because of the fact Kauto has never been streched out that much till now on such a tricky ground. Certainly trickier than last year. Harry Finley said he definitely thinks the ground is a bit testing before the race. And last year the pace was so slow in the beginning. I don't know the times yet, but definitely want to see those. And I still think Denman has a bit of improvement left in him. The way he gallops and jumps is magnificent. He brushed through the top of the 3rd last, watch it on the replay. He was very low actually, but that never stoped his rythm. Other horses would have been on the ground to be honest. Kauto has 7 lengths to find and Denman has more to offer is my honest opinion.

[alexmac]

IMMENSE. Being on course and seeing that was special. he really is a tank. No-one was going to stop him today... Touched 5/2 on course aswell!!!!!!

[WoodyTHFC]

Top class from Denman, not quite the best performance this week that was Master Minded imo but still top class. Personally I do not think KS was at his top best, he still ran a fine race and probably similar to last year's Gold Cup but not absolute vintage. Did not jump well enough to be at his best but Denman had a big say about that, he just crushed him and did not really allow him to be in a top rythmm. Possibly he did not quite appreciate the tacky ground but he has won on that before so no real excuse there, maybe does not like Cheltenham fences as much as thought, seems a strange thing to say considering he won their last year but that Gold Cup was a strange affair (time/pace) after all a fall in the QMCC in 2006 and now today under the optimum pressure which is probably the main reason, he did not quite jump nor cruise and travel as he can do, he never really put the pressure on Denman, it was the other way round. Maybe just an idea for KS next year would be just to try and get a run in before GC at Chelt, maybe Letherby and Christopher just to clear up a nagging doubt that has just gone into my mind but as I say that is down to Denman as much as anything else. As for NC, ran a great race, has shown promise before, Grade 1 winner in Ire but that was a fine performance, career best. If you were being picky it may slightly bring the form down a touch being so close, esp. as up to now it had needed flat tracks seemingly and was arguably better right handed.

[RB]

This report on Sporting Life by Dave Ord sums it up perfectly or me tbh.

There was no anti-climax, just a breathtaking horse race. Denman won the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.
It was at the top of the hill that we knew, the moment Ruby Walsh loosened the reins on Kauto Star after getting in a touch close to the last ditch.
He was in trouble, whilst Denman was freewheeling his way home.
A mistake at the third last was a slight scare for Sam Thomas in the saddle, but the race was safe.
Kauto Star never gave in, but the legs were weary. The heart wanted to fight, but he couldn't get there.
For a few strides going towards the last he somehow threatened to engage battle but the run petered out. This was Denman's day.
Thomas was magnificent in the saddle. Once he went to the front with a circuit to go you knew this was going according to plan.
At the line the winning margin was seven lengths, it was going to be around that margin from a long way out.
Kauto Star fought bravely to repel Neptune Collonges and cling onto second. The crown may be gone but he remains a champion.
And what a race Neptune Collonges ran in third. Making the early running and then fighting all the way to the line once Denman had flown. This was the pinnacle of Paul Nicholls' training career. A one-two-three in the
most prestigious race of the season is a phenomenal achievement.
But he is a phenomenal trainer.
It is fitting that Paul Barber is a part-owner in Denman, he is landlord and mentor to the trainer.
Nicholls has incredible depth to his team and it promises to get even better over the coming years.
He was a man under incredible pressure coming into this week, but it never showed.
He is a pleasure to deal with, as approachable as any handler in the country.
At the media day to promote the Festival, Dicheat was inundated by broadcasters, journalists and TV crews.
Yet everyone got the interviews they wanted.
It was great PR for the sport.
The totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup was great for the sport.
And the winner could just be a great too.

[AK1979]

Harry promised it would run in the National next season, i do hope by winning the Gold Cup he doesnt change his plans.
Just heard the what the handicapper thought of todays race, he said Kauto ran 2lbs below best, i thought a bit more than that to be honest and now rates Denman in the 180's.

I understand its still the plan to run him in next years GN, which seems a surprising move to me - i would have thought they would wait until 2010 but hey ho. Can you imagine what the weights would be like - half the field would be out of the handicap!

[mileni4uk]

Originally Posted by AK1979

I understand its still the plan to run him in next years GN, which seems a surprising move to me - i would have thought they would wait until 2010 but hey ho. Can you imagine what the weights would be like - half the field would be out of the handicap!

Listened to the interview with the whole team after the gold cup. It sounded to me Nicholls wasn't that fond of the idea.

[AK1979]

Really? I think Nicholls is right. He needs to have a chat with the owner then because he still seems up for it!

[bowles10]

Denmans winning time was 7 secs slower than KS last year.

The ground was tackier yes, but i also would like to see sectional times as KS never picked up at all & despite being 4L behind, was suddenly about 15L behind when Sam pressed the button on Denman. I still dont think Denman would beat KS over 3m & would love to see it next season perhaps at the King George ?

I put up a thread last year about the possibility of KS getting beaten in last years race amid qustion marks over its ability to stay & also its lack of course form. Ok, nothing was good enough last year but this year Denman proved that KS is beatable on a level playing field.