Denman vs Long Run in Totesport Bowl at Aintree

Fresh off a final few furlongs that will live in Cheltenham history, Denman and the reigning Gold Cup winner Long Run look set to tangle once again as Paul Nicholls has confirmed that Denman will likely run in the Totesport Bowl at the Grand National meeting. Set to run on the opening day of the Liverpool festival, Denman is apparently in cracking form and will be looking to make a major statement on April 7.

Speaking to the Racing Post on Sunday, Nicholls declared “he (Denman) has come out of the Gold Cup really well and the plan is to go to Aintree… He is fresh and well and has only had two runs this season but we would like to see some rain before Aintree.” Nicholls was adamant that Denman is able to run well on good ground but is not as quick as he once was so a softer surface plays to his advantage.

The race entry is a bold move for Nicholls who saw Denman famously fall in that very race back in 2009 - a year after winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup. The fall was the only one of Denman’s career and the venue certainly isn’t an ideal destination for Denman but options are limited at this point in the season.

The move could come as a disappointment for a certain school of jumping enthusiast as many believed this was the year that Denman would finally tackle the John Smith’s Grand National.

Additionally, Denman’s stablemate Kauto Star was confirmed for the Guinness Gold Cup at the upcoming Punchestown Festival.