Racing:Racegoers at Newbury were treated to a welcome case of 'deja vu' as Denman powered his way to victory under top weight to become the first since the mighty Arkle in the 1960s to land a second Hennessy Gold Cup.
Two years on from his first rout under 11st 12lb and the nine-year-old was back to give weight and a beating to a field packed full of quality and promise.
Ruby Walsh's mount did not let his supporters down with the heavily-backed 11-4 favourite leading down the home run to pull three and a half lengths clear of stablemate What A Friend.
The 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner - who was racing off a 13lb higher mark than two years ago - came back from a heart problem to chase home Kauto Star in last season's blue riband and set up a mouthwatering clash with his neighbour at Paul Nicholls' yard following this mind-blowing return to form.
Denman's odds for the Cheltenham Gold Cup have been cut in half by Sky Bet to 5/2 - Kauto Star remains their market leader at 2/1.
Nicholls said: "I never thought he would come back like that and to see a run like that from Denman is very, very special. It one of those great moments we will never forget.
"I feel mighty proud of the horse. I knew we had him somewhere near his best in himself, but to go and do that and beat the horses who kept challenging him is awesome.
"That is probably as good a run as he has ever had."
The Queen's Barbers Shop and the Sir Alex Ferguson-owned What A Friend were the only obvious dangers turning to the final four fences, but Denman knows his way home here and took his course record to five from five.
Nicholls continued: "I said to Ruby going out that he had one horse to beat if everything went to plan - that one horse was What A Friend and it has turned out exactly like that. What A Friend has run a blinder."
Denman followed up his 2007 Hennessy win with victory in Leopardstown's Lexus Chase and Nicholls said: "We will talk about going to Ireland, but the last thing I want to do is go and give him a slog in the mud.
"If it was very heavy I might just go to the Aon. I am not going to make plans and will do what is best for him.
"If it means getting him to Cheltenham like today I might only give him one more run in something like the Aon as he loves it around here.
"For what he has been through to come back, what a Gold Cup it will be this year.
"Both Denman and Kauto will be trained to the minute on the day and Ruby will then have to make his own decision."
Sam Thomas was aboard for Denman's previous Hennessy win with Walsh ruled out due to injury and the Irishman was delighted to be back in the plate, with the former ironically on What A Friend this time.
Walsh said: "It was great to be riding him rather than watching him for a change and he really stuck his head down off the bend.
"I didn't think this could be done, I thought he would be third or fourth and would run the race of his life to do that.
"For him to come back and do what he has done and for Kauto to win last week - they are two wonderful horses to keep racing on the pages for the right reasons and it is great to be riding the two of them."
Denman is owned in partnership by West Country dairy farmer Paul Barber and the extrovert professional gambler Harry Findlay, and the latter dominated the winner's enclosure to rapturous applause.
Findlay said: "I don't think he was even trying on the first circuit - that's how good he is.
"Whenever he has come down the home straight here at Newbury he has come down it like a missile and when he turned for home I screamed at him 'come on Denman, one more time'.
"I'm so happy for the people here and coming to the last I saw the race as I would as a teenager - I just wanted him to win and it is something we will all remember."
Nicholls' duo were nearly four lengths clear of Bob Buckler's Welsh National winner Niche Market.
Buckler said: "He's a real star and it must have been one of the best Hennessys for years.
"We will have to look at the National for him."
Barbers Shop was just a short head adrift in fourth and the Queen's jumps racing manager, Sir Michael Oswald, commented: "He travelled well and he jumped well. He did get a bit tired, but his jockey said he stayed."