Cheltenham Gold Cup News - Co-Owner Paul Barber Calls Denman Better Than Last Year

In what must be words of truth from heaven for the punters backing the last year's Gold Cup winner Denman, both, the co-owner Paul Barber and trainer Paul Nicolls have come out with positive statements on the horse who is seeking to regain the gold cup this time.This has led to a flurry of activity on the champion horse in the betting market ever since the reports came out.Denman has not run on the course ever since undergoing teratemnt for an irregular heartbeat.Trainer Paul Nicolls had said last week after seeing a tranining session that he is very much pleased with the way Denmen went through his workout with Jockey Ruby Walsh riding.He did everything right," Nicholls told the Daily Mail. "It's part of his training and quite hard work.""He was absolutely perfect, I was pleased with him and Ruby was pleased with him. We couldn't have been happier. "Now we are all set for Newbury. That will be the acid test. We are happy with him at home, but he has got to perform on the track. A few days out after this, co-owner Paul Parber has also come up with his take on Denmen and his words are sure to make all the Denmen supporters very happy.According to Paul Barber, who Is the joint owner of the champion horse, Denman has matured to be a better horse this year."I think he will be a better horse. He's a nine-year-old now and fully mature." Barber told At The Races."I know he wasn't fully mature last year, and if he has matured now I think you'll find a better Denman rather than a worse one."In the last couple of months he's working supremely well. When I go to see him in the yard he's macho, his ears are back and he can't wait to go racing again."I can assure you in the last couple of months he's working supremely well - I've seen him jump and go and he's in great form.""I would love to get the first race out the way. After what happened earlier in the year I still get the heebie-jeebies thinking about the race." Punters all over have been quick to react to this positive report on 2008 Gold Cup winner Denman from his owner and this has resulted in new support for it after it went friendless till now in the betting.Head of PR Charlie McCann said: "Denman has been largely friendless this winter and we didn't see much business even when we went 2/1, which is the biggest price available in the industry, until this morning when co-owner Paul Barber suggested live on ATR that not only could "the machine" be as good as, he could actually be better than ever. "It would be wrong to say we have been inundated with enquiries about the nine-year-old but there has been a steady stream of support. "If Barber is indeed correct we're in trouble but we will continue to lay Denman at the 2s for as long as we can as we believe he has much to prove ahead of next month's Aon Chase."Denman was available at 2/1 earlier with most UK Bookmakers but now the odds have started shortening since yesterday and now it is as low as 6/4 with most bookies.Bet365 is offering the best price at 15/8 now and Betfair has him 2/1.Denman's stablemate Kauto Star is as low as 5/2 with most bookmakers and is 16/5 at Betfair for the best deal.