DENMAN'S GOT A FULL TANK

DENMAN showed why he's nicknamed 'the tank' as he defied top weight to land his second Hennessy Gold Cup.

In the greatest racing comeback since Lester Piggott bagged the Breeders' Cup in 1990, Paul Nicholls' star dug out a 3½-length win under Ruby Walsh over stablemate What A Friend.

All this a year after surgery for a heart irregularity and the loss of his Cheltenham Gold Cup crown to Kauto Star.

His trainer Nicholls was almost in tears at Newbury but said: "I never thought he'd come back like that. And to see a run like that from Denman is very, very special. It's one of those great moments we'll never forget."

Denman became the first horse since the legendary Arkle in 1965 to win more than one Hennessy.

Nicholls added: "What a Gold Cup it will be this year. Both Denman and Kauto will be trained to the minute on the day - and Ruby will then have to decide who to ride."

This article has 0 comments