Denman and Sprinter Sacre delight the crowds at Newbury racecourse
Denman and Sprinter Sacre received a warm welcome when they paraded for their fans at Newbury on Saturday (8 February).
For Denman it was a first outing since his life-threatening bone and blood infection last year.
Meanwhile Sprinter Sacre was there wearing a heart monitor, as a trial racecourse trip following his heart problems that were diagnosed at Kempton in December.
“Denman was in terrific form,” said rider Charlotte Alexander. “He was very pleased that it was him that was going in the trailer this weekend as he’s always been left behind when I am going hunting.
“The parade went well before the first race although the photographers wanted a photo of Sprinter Sacre and Denman together. Denman is not one for waiting so got slightly impatient and had a bit of a rear.”
Denman was certainly full of life as he lead the runners down to the start before the Betfair Denman Chase — a race he won in 2008.
“He was on his toes for the ridden parade and felt really well,” added Charlotte.
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
“He did rear and whip round when we were leading the runners in front of the stand and luckily I didn’t fall off!
“We then galloped back in front of the stands and the crowd roared. Denman absolutely loved it. It is so amazing that he was there after everything he has been through.”
The Betfair Denman Chase was won by the Kim Bailey-trained Harry Topper, ridden by Jason Maguire. The horse had earlier in the season benefitted from jumps training from eventer Chris King.
Julian Thick, of The Racecourse Newbury, added: “It was a wonderful experience for our racegoers to see Denman and Sprinter Sacre walk around the parade ring and my thanks go to Charlotte Alexander, who looks after Denman, for bringing the great warrior along.”
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
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.