Denman Wins Cheltenham Gold Cup
Despite our thoughts to the contrary before the race, Denman has won the Cheltenham Gold Cup as the bigger horse ploughed through the ground and outjumped his stablemate Kauto Star to win the race in fine style this afternoon.
Kauto Star’s connections missed out on the Betfair Bonus of £1Million that they would have scooped for retaining their crown, but can be pleased with their horses gallant efforts on ground he clearly did not enjoy.
Kauto Star’s jockey, Ruby Walsh (who had the choice of the ride on either Denman or Kauto Star), said the horse simply did not ever get going, and had been gutsy to take second place despite hitting several fences quite hard.
Our other choice, Exotic Dancer, which we suggested each way was travelling as well as any at the top of the hill, and looked sure to make the frame when hitting the third last fence extremely hard before eventually finishing a respectable fifth.
Denman led from the front after the first circuit and extended the field early on. None could live with his relentless gallop on the dead-ish ground: the horse won by over seven lengths.
One of the best Cheltenham Gold Cups of the modern era - hopefully we’ll see a rematch of the same top two next year, with livelier ground it should be much closer, or even a turnaround.
Top sport.
Watch a replay of the race by clicking here.
Photograph courtesy of The Guardian (by Andrew Redington / Getty)
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[...] Cup Online - Denman Posted in March 14th, 2008 by System Tipster in Horse Racing TV, Racing Review Denman won this years Cheltenham Gold Cup - much to our misfortune - but the race itself was a terrific training performance as Nicholls [...]