It’s been a while since there was so much buzz surrounding one horse but Denman has earned every bit of it over the last few years. This incredible horse could be the spanner in the works for all other horses if he’s entered into the 2010 Grand National but what is it that makes him so special? Despite his heart scare last year, he has come back with an almightly bang having won both the Hennessy and the Cheltenham Gold Cup in the 2007-08 season and just pulled off another great feat by winning the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury making him the first horse to win a second Hennessy since Irish chaser Arkle, who won the race in 1964 and 1965 as well as the Cheltenham Gold Cup three years consecutively.

Trained by Paul Nicholls and usually paired with jockey Sam Thomas, he is almost certainly in contention for the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March but whether Thomas rides him again or Ruby Walsh changes his allegiance from Kauto Star remains to be seen. Paddy Power are sure Ruby Walsh will remain loyal to Kauto Star this March and they’re currently offering 2-9 that Ruby rides Kauto Star and 11-4 Denman. And what a pair to be able to choose from, with Kauto Star will be aiming for a third Gold Cup, and Denman for his second.

Betfair are currently taking ante-post bets on Denman to win the 2010 Grand National but I imagine that Nicholls won’t be making any kind of definite commitment on that score until much closer to the race though if he enters him the betting will go through the roof, especially as he could potentially be up against Tricky Trickster, the Nigel Twiston-Davies contender, who also heavily tipped to pull out the performance of a lifetime in the race.

For all ante-post odds on the 2010 Grand National visit Paddy Power or Betfair.