Racing hero Denman to parade for crowds at Newbury
Fans of Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Denman will be able to see the former racing star at Newbury this weekend.
The 16-year-old gelding will be parading for the crowds at Newbury racecourse tomorrow (Saturday, 13 February) ahead of the race named in his honour, the Denman Chase.
As well as winning the Denman Chase (then the Aon) in 2008, the gelding also won the Berkshire track’s showpiece race — the Hennessy Gold Cup — twice (2007 and 2009).
Denman, who was trained by champion trainer Paul Nicholls in Somerset, has been based with Charlotte Alexander in Gloucestershire since 2012.
The popular chaser has settled in nicely to a new career in hunting and team chasing in his retirement.
“Denman is in rude health,” Charlotte told H&H.
He is now being prepared for the team chase season, which is due to start in the middle of March.
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“He has been hunting regularly with the Beaufort and had the odd day visiting the Blackmore Vale, Heythrop and Fernie this season,” she added.
“He has been training with Brian Hutton of Talland in order to make him more careful out hunting.
“This training has definitely helped his jumping and both jockey and horse are now more confident over an upright set of rails!”
Related articles:
- Denman ‘absolutely loving’ team chasing
- Denman flying in his new career
- Paul Nicholls reveals his Hennessy Gold Cup memories
Denman won his first rosette last October, when he took part in the intermediate at the Pytchley in Northants (11 October), partnered by Charlotte. The team finished second.
Charlotte said the 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner “absolutely loved it”.
“He found it easy and was very pleased with himself,” she added. “I’m thrilled with him as he is improving all the time.”
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A graduate of Exeter University, Amy joined our news team from Redpin Publishing in 2008 as news writer. She was promoted to deputy news editor in May 2013 and became news editor in April 2015. She left Horse & Hound in March 2016 to take up an editorial position in Dubai.