Racing:Ruby Walsh "can't wait" to ride Denman in Saturday's Hennessy Gold Cup. Paul Nicholls' stable jockey is back aboard the gelding, winner of the 2007 renewal of the Newbury feature, and hopes for a big run.
"I can't wait to ride him. He's a very good horse, winner of a Gold Cup, Sun Alliance, Hennessy, Lexus, Challow Hurdle. He's an incredible horse but he has a huge weight and a huge task ahead of him on Saturday. I can't see too many other horses being up to it really," said Walsh.
"He's a lot higher in the ratings, nearly a stone above where he was when he last won the Hennessy, and is giving the likes of What A Friend a stone and eight pounds and Snowy Morning a stone and ten.
"Two years ago they'd have been getting ten pounds and eight pounds. It's a huge task ahead of him but he's a big strapping horse and hopefully he'll put in a good performance."
"When he worked at Exeter he was typical Denman, he wasn't going anywhere for the first mile but when we turned for home he took off. It was just a day out and he did what we asked off him."
Evan Williams saddles another former winner in 2006 hero State Of Play, but admits his other runner, Cappa Bleu, is his main hope.
Having won the Foxhunter Chase at Cheltenham in March, Cappa Bleu only has to shoulder 10st on Saturday.
"The plan of attack is that both horses will run in the Hennessy," said Williams.
"Paul (Moloney, stable jockey) is just being loyal to State Of Play, after all he's done for us it would have been very hard for him to get off him.
"We've booked Jamie (Moore) for the big horse (Cappa Bleu) but he hasn't sat on him yet. He's very straightforward, though. People keep asking me to split them and while my heart will always be with State Of Play, in a race like the Hennessy you need an up-and-coming horse. Cappa Bleu is that - he could be anything."