GOLD CUP HERO DENMAN DIES
trainer Paul nicholls and jockey ruby Walsh both nominated Denman’s second Hennessy Gold Cup triumph at newbury in 2009 as his greatest performance after the death of the outstanding steeplechaser at the age of 18 was announced yesterday.
the gelding, nicknamed the tank because of his imposing physique and relentless galloping style, will probably be best remembered for his 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup win under Sam thomas, beating his equally brilliant stablemate Kauto Star.
that day, Denman ensured his name would be etched into racing folklore as he took over the running with a circuit to go and simply burnt off his rivals. But the second Hennessy was as memorable and more emotional.
it was one of the great weight-carrying performances in the modern steeplechasing era as Denman, carrying 11st 12lb, gave stablemate What a Friend, who later won two Grade One races, 22lb and a three-and-a-half-length beating. and the win came after surgical intervention for a heart problem that had left many observers wondering whether Denman would ever scale the heights again.
nicholls said: ‘the Gold Cup is a phenomenal race to win but to win the Hennessy a second time having come back from the heart problem as well as other problems was testament to him.
‘i was on the newbury lawn that day and i have never heard a crowd go so mad. everyone on the racecourse was willing him to win. it was a day you never forget. it was a privilege to be part of it.’
Walsh added: ‘the second Hennessy Gold Cup win was the best weight- carrying performance that i’ve ever been involved in. He was a handicap certainty when he won his first Hennessy but to win his second off a mark which was 13lb higher than when he won it the first time, that was incredible.
‘as good as his Gold Cup win was, what he did in that second Hennessy Gold Cup was amazing.’
Denman’s popularity was amplified by his rivalry with Kauto Star. racing fans were divided by a partisanship rarely seen in the sport.
the racing styles of the two horses was different — a bruiser against a ballet dancer — and they lived in adjacent nicholls stables.
nicholls said: ‘Kauto was a horse who would be your best mate, next door Denman would take your arm off. He had that aggression.’
after racing, Denman survived a potentially fatal infection before heading for retirement in the Cotswolds.
But his condition worsened and he returned to nicholls’ stable where the decision was made to put him down.
nicholls added: ‘We were hoping he could enjoy the summer grass but he was in a bad way and we had to make the inevitable decision. We didn’t want to see him suffer.’