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.

The bookies may be crying into their cups of tea but the racing world is on a high after Denman took his second Hennessy Gold Cup title on Saturday at Newbury. The favourite romped home by three and a half lengths over his nearest rival, What a Friend, to become only the third horse to win this race twice – the other two being Arkle and Mandarin.

He started favourite with every bookie and if you backed him earlier in the week you could have got him for as much as 4/1 but on the day his odds tumbled to a very short 2/1, but that’s still double money so not too bad given his calibre and the fact that barring a major incident he was always going to win the race, or is that hindsight talking??

He may have been lumbered with 12lbs over his closest bookie rival and had a whopping 22lbs on the second placer but that didn’t stop him from jumping magnificently and running supremely. The Paul Nicholls-trained runner who was ridden by Ruby Walsh, took the lead from Niche Market with a monster jump at the cross fence on the second circuit but was being closed down by Barbers Shop and stablemate What A Friend.

His stablemate What A Friend attempted to put up a fight and may have even given Denman the impidous to go all the way after they drew alongside each other at the final fence but a jumping error from What A Friend saw the title slip away from him and Denman roared over the fence and on to the winning post.

If you fancy Denman for the Grand National why not check out all the ante-post odds at Betfair where you now back him at 24/1.

Denman, bred by Colman O’Flynn, was foaled in April 2000 in County Cork. Sired by Presenting and brother to Grade One winning Silverburn, he was originally trained by former champion jockey Adrian Maguire. He was spotted by Tom O’Mahony, a scout for Paul Barber, the landlord of trainer Paul Nicholls, at the Duhallow point-to-point races at Liscaroll, where he beat 16 fellow runners by 12 lengths.

Now under the hand of Paul Nicholls and the whip of Ruby Walsh, the 2005/06 season saw Denman win a 21 length victory at the Challow Hurdle. The following season saw him win his first four novice chases, and although he was a favourite for the Cheltenham Festival, it was decided that he would be entered into the Royal and Sun Alliance Novices Chases as opposed to the Gold Cup. He stole the show from Snowy Morning by a cool 10 lengths and exhibited jumping not seen in a novice for a long time previous.

The 2007/08 season saw him entered for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, with new jockey Sam Thomas, due to Ruby Walsh staying loyal to defending champion and fellow stable mate Kauto Star. Speculation was rife and even Ruby Walsh was uncertain what the outcome was to be, as Nicholls was confident that both horses were 100% ready for the race. The race was close but Denman managed to win by 7 lengths.

The 2008/09 season was interrupted for Denman as he needed to be treated for an irregular heartbeat, and so didn’t appear until Kempton Park in February, where he finished second. His next race was the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March where he tried to retain his claim on the cup, but finished second behind Kauto Star. Nicholls is determined that will regain his crown now that he is as he was two years ago when he won the Gold Cup.

Despite the fact that for a second year in a row Denman is being widely speculated as an Aintree contender, nothing has been decided by Paul Nicholls who has indicated that Tricky Trickster, Denman’s stablemate, will be his National candidate. However, his bold jumping style, sheer pace and exquisite style of racing would be suited to this race and with so many horses out of the handicap he really could stand an incredible chance of winning.

If you fancy your chances and think Denman is the horse for you, Paddy Power are taking ante-post bets on him now!