McCoy to ride Denman

Tony McCoy will ride Denman in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup on March 19.

McCoy received the call-up to partner the brilliant chaser as Ruby Walsh, Paul Nicholls' first-choice rider, has remained loyal to stablemate Kauto Star.

The 14-times champion jockey has yet to ride Denman, but will be at the helm for the Aon Chase at Newbury on Saturday week before renewing acquaintance at Cheltenham.

Joint-owner Paul Barber told the Daily Telegraph: "In fairness to Paul Nicholls, we had to lay the ghost.

"I'm sure Ruby would have wanted another four weeks to decide, but we have reached our decision - McCoy rides."

Denman has only ever been ridden under Nicholls' tutelage by Walsh, Christian Williams and Sam Thomas.

Thomas did the steering when the popular chestnut won the 2008 Gold Cup, defeating the Walsh-ridden Kauto Star by seven lengths, but was also on board when he fell at Aintree last spring.

Barber feels the recruitment of McCoy will bolster the chances of Denman wresting away the Gold Cup from Kauto Star, who last year became the first horse in history to regain the Cheltenham showpiece.

He said: "We know that to be taking on Ruby on Kauto Star, we need to have a jockey who is at least his equal.

"We wouldn't want a situation where we were theoretically giving away several pounds.

"You can't do that if you want to win a Gold Cup."

McCoy is relishing the prospect of going head to head with Walsh and Kauto Star in March.

"On Friday night I went to bed dreaming of Gold Cups," said the jockey.

"Needless to say, I am delighted to be riding Denman at Cheltenham and I can't wait to take on Ruby on Kauto Star."

McCoy, who secured 3,000 jumps winners last February, claimed the Gold Cup in 1997 aboard the Noel Chance-trained Mr Mulligan.

The nearest he came last decade was when Exotic Dancer finished second to Kauto Star three years ago.

Denman's chances of winning this year's Gold Cup were heightened considerably by his remarkable success in the Hennessy Gold Cup in November.

Before that, however, many questioned whether he would ever be the same horse following his 2008 win at Cheltenham, after which he was found to have been suffering with an irregular heartbeat.

He did not run again since February 2009, when he came home a weary second in a Grade Two at Kempton.

Although the son of Presenting finished an honourable second in last year's Gold Cup, his fall at Aintree was thought at the time to have been another significant reverse.

All that changed when he made a dramatic return to action with a glorious triumph in the Hennessy - considered to be one of the greatest weight-carrying performances of all time.

Denman, who is also owned by professional gambler Harry Findlay, is now reported to be thriving in his home-work ahead of next weekend's Aon Chase.

Barber said: "He jumped magnificently earlier in the week. He is in tremendous form."

McCoy understands Walsh's decision to side with Kauto Star, but is nonetheless thrilled at being given the chance to star on Denman.

He said: "The Gold Cup being the race it is, and having the two horses that are there this year with Kauto Star and Denman, to get on one of them is every jockey's dream.

"It's a bit of a disappointment for Ruby having to pick one of them, but having won four King Georges and two Gold Cups on Kauto Star, he was probably always going to sway with him.

"But to be given the ride on Denman is great.

"All being well, I'll get to ride him at Newbury next weekend, which is something I'm very much looking forward to."

Having for a long time been convinced Kauto Star is the superior horse, McCoy was forced to realign his opinion after Denman's victory in the Hennessy.

"He's won two Hennessys and a Gold Cup and is a powerful horse," the jockey told Sky Sports News.

"If there are any chinks in Kauto Star's armoury he'll find them out, that's for sure.

"I always thought for a long time, especially after last year's Gold Cup, that Kauto Star had the edge.

"But then what Denman did in the Hennessy really made me sit up and think again - but then you look at the King George when Kauto Star annihilated the field there.

"They are two horses who are going to put on an exceptional show.

"Hopefully Denman will come out on top."

McCoy has a long-standing relationship with Ditcheat-based Nicholls, for whom he rides Tchico Polos in Saturday's totepool Challengers Novices' Chase at Sandown.

Although the jockey is retained by powerful owner JP McManus, the legendary Irish gambler does not have any entries in this year's Gold Cup, paving the way clear for his new association with Denman.

Walsh is unsure he has made the right decision in electing to ride Kauto Star.

He told the Irish Examiner: "The reason for having to make such an early choice came when Denman's owners were anxious that whoever rode their horse at Newbury would also be aboard at Cheltenham.

"The reasoning was that they simply want Tony to get a feel of Denman at Newbury.

"That's obviously fair to everyone involved, although I have to admit I would love to be able to sit on it for another couple of weeks.

"There are still several pieces of the jigsaw which have to fall into place.

"Denman's performance at Newbury is going to be crucial and, in an ideal world, I'd have wanted to wait until after that race.

"Anyway, what's done is done and, as long as we both remain sound, Kauto and I will be seeking a third Gold Cup in five weeks and six days' time.

"But I'm long enough in this game to know that so much can change between now and then.

"Tony and I and Kauto and Denman have to arrive in one piece before all of this falls into place.

"It was a very difficult decision and I have no idea if I've got it right."