RACING:Co-owner Harry Findlay insists all roads now lead to Aintree for a rejuvenated Denman. The 2008 Gold Cup winner is reportedly back on top of his game and will definitely run in the totesport Bowl on Thursday week.
Denman's troubles have been well documented this term. Nonetheless, the Paul Nicholls-trained nine-year-old still produced a magnificent display to finish second behind Kauto Star in this year's Gold Cup.
"Denman is very much on an upward curve," Findlay told The Guardian."Paul Barber (co-owner) said to me just before the Gold Cup that he thought he was maybe only a couple of weeks short - his well-being and progression since the race have made us think that even more.
"The Gold Cup was a difficult race to watch in many ways, but the reception and response he got from the crowd afterwards were just phenomenal.
"Knowing what the crowds are like at Aintree, it will be one of the great days of my life if he can come back and put in an authoritative performance."
Last year's runner-up King Johns Castle has been scratched from the 2009 John Smith's Grand National on April 4th.
Arthur Moore's grey finished just behind Comply Or Die 12 months ago but has suffered a setback.
The JP McManus-owned 10-year-old has only once been seen on a racetrack since last year's laudable effort on Merseyside.