RACING:IN THE END, it turned out to be less of a duel and more of a shoot: Denman blew Kauto Star's chance away before the title-holder had barely turned and instead of a toe-to-toe slug, yesterday's Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup became a victory parade for an outstanding new champion.
As the Sam Thomas-ridden winner passed the post seven lengths clear of his great rival, with Neptune Collonges just a short head back in third to complete a remarkable clean sweep for trainer Paul Nicholls, the only surprise was that Denman's stable companions got as close as they did.
The giant ex-Irish point-to-pointer appeared to have the Gold Cup sewn up so far from the finish, the massed stands had prepared themselves for a solo fly-by. But appearances can be deceptive.
Denman's giant stride devours the ground and devastates the opposition in a way that might look effortless but isn't. For evidence of the determination that went into landing steeplechasing's greatest prize for his co-owners, Harry Findlay and Paul Barber, all anyone had to do was look at the exhausted beaten horses behind him. The fact that Kauto Star fought back to reduce the winning distance to seven lengths was the stuff of a champion that might still be back for another crack at the Gold Cup.
"I don't see why, all being well, they won't come back here again," said Nicholls who was winning a third Gold Cup and whose one-two-three yesterday was an echo of Michael Dickinson's first five finish of 1983.
"Today's ground was a bit dead and tacky for Kauto Star but all horses get beaten some day. This was Denman's day and he was awesome."
Thomas (23) admitted to being "in a world of my own" afterwards which made quite a contrast to less than an hour earlier when he had felt Nicholls' wrath after getting beaten in another race. "Let's just say he got a cutting from the trainer!" said Nicholls who was full of praise for his number two jockey. "He hasn't had a great week, and there was a lot of pressure on him, but he was wonderful out there. I'm very proud of him."
Nicholls' number one rider, Ruby Walsh, was left to lick his wounds having chosen Kauto Star over Denman on which he had success in the SunAlliance last year. "Of course I'm disappointed but that's horse racing. The best horse won on the day," said the Irish champion jockey. "I was never travelling in the race. When Sam kicked on with a circuit to go, I knew I was in trouble."
With Nicholls predicting both his stable stars will return to Cheltenham in 2009, the bookies were quick to quote 7 to 4 about Denman defending his title. Kauto Star is as low as 7 to 2. Ask nicely and there'll be no problem getting a price on who'll ride them!
Three Irish-trained winners yesterday brought the total for the week to seven although the last of them, Silver Jaro, was an unconsidered 50 to 1 shot in the Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle.
Ruby Walsh ended the week as leading rider with three winners and edged his rival Robert Thornton on placed efforts. Paul Nicholls was leading trainer.
