Leopardstown Report: Denman duly pulled off the expected major Christmas double for the Ruby Walsh-Paul Nicholls team when justifying long odds-on in yesterday's Lexus Chase at Leopardstown to add to Kauto Star's King George triumph at Kempton.
The rising star of British steeplechasing put in a typically power-packed performance to beat Mossbank by four lengths with The Listener a head further back in third, and the Leopardstown veteran, Beef Or Salmon, just behind them in fourth.
However those anticipating a solo-gig for Denman didn't get quite what they expected and certainly those wrapped up in the Kauto Star or Denman debate for the Gold Cup might ponder Michael Hourigan's post-race confidence about Mossbank's future.
Racing in the War Or Attrition colours of Ryanair boss, Michael O'Leary, Mossbank graduated to the big time with a fine run under Davy Russell that had his trainer positively purring about the future.
Significantly he also didn't seem to be too concerned if Denman appears in that future in February's Hennessy back at Leopardstown.
"I'm excited, and there's more to come because he's only a young horse," beamed Hourigan.
"We've raced out wide and probably gone a few hundred yards further than anyone else trying to find better ground.
"If it was yesterday, when the ground was better, I think it would have been a different result."
He added: "He stayed the trip well. The problem was the ground. He has the sort of action that floats over the ground. He'll go for the Hennessy, along with Beef Or Salmon, and he'll also be entered for the Gold Cup even though the Ryanair is more his target at this stage."
The Listener is also set to return to Leopardstown for the Hennessy although Robert Alner's team were more downbeat about any idea of taking on Denman again.
"No excuses. Denman was a better horse," reported jockey Daryl Jacob while Alner's assistant, Nick Mitchell, added: "There's nothing else we could have done. The Hennessy is an option and maybe the Ryanair at Cheltenham."
Notre Pere boosted his own Cheltenham claims with a hard-fought Grade One success in the Knight Frank Ganly Walters Novice Chase when beating Abbeybraney by a head.
Andrew Lynch stepped in for Robbie Power who was stood down for 21 days with concussion the day before and galvanised the dour stayer to victory.
"I was worried about the ground because he's not the fastest," admitted trainer Jim Dreaper.
"In fact we have bumper horses at home who would beat him easily for speed. But he's the same as a lot of good horses we've had, like Brown Lad, who get beaten at home but keep going on the track. We'll look at the PJ Moriarty and all the staying chases."
Notre Pere is now a general 33 to 1 shot for the SunAlliance chase, a race in which Harcon, who raced in the same colours, was runner-up 11 years ago.
A change from her normal front-running tactics worked perfectly for Sweet Kiln in the Grade Two Woodies Christmas Hurdle and she could now be aimed for the newly-installed David Nicholson Memorial Mares Hurdle on the final day of the Cheltenham festival.
"I'd dearly love to try her at that race. It's left handed, she'll love the uphill finish and she'll get good ground. People have her down as a mud-slogger but she isn't. I think she would have a good shot at it," said her trainer, Michael Bowe.
Cashmans installed Sweet Kiln as a 6 to 1 third favourite for the new two-and-a-half mile race.
Time Electric has been made an 8 to 1 favourite in some lists for the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham after Tom Mullins's well-backed newcomer won the last impressively to add to an earlier Mullins win in the opener with Made In Taipan.
"Davy (Russell) could hardly ride him the last day he was hanging to his left so much so he will be kept left-handed. Davy said he was 95 per cent better today," Mullins reported.
His older brother, Willie, collected the handicap hurdle with Deutschland who got the race in the stewards room when the JP McManus-owned Streets Of Gold was demoted for crossing his rival before the last obstacle.
It looked a very marginal decision indeed as Ruby Walsh on Deutschland went for a gap that only briefly appeared before Alan Crowe on Streets Of Gold drifted left.
There was half a length in it at the line and after a lengthy inquiry the controversial decision to reverse the placings was taken.
McManus had had better luck earlier when the well-backed Major Sensation landed the novice handicap hurdle to give the champion owner his first winner of the week at Leopardstown.
"He's a half brother to Mini Sensation and if he does half as well as him he'll be alright," said the winning trainer Arthur Moore.
Yesterday's Leopardstown crowd of 17,597 was the biggest of the 2007 Christmas festival although it was a reduction of almost a thousand on last year. Tote turnover was up however to €701,195 from €636,473. The bookmaker figure of €2,365,740 was down from last year's €2,523,362.
