Walsh Sweet On Denman

Ruby Walsh has nominated Royal & SunAlliance Chase favourite Denman as his ?banker' of the Cheltenham Festival.

The Paul Nicholls-trained seven-year-old has only lost once under Rules in nine outings, although that defeat came when he was sent off a warm favourite for the SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle last season.

'I'm hoping Denman will prove hard to beat in the SunAlliance Chase,' said Walsh.

'But we thought that last year when he ran in the SunAlliance Hurdle and he got turned over!

'But he is a chaser in the making and he has done everything right, so he is probably the one.

'He gave me a great feel at Newbury and he was very professional, he ran dead straight and he jumped like a stag. He is improving with every race,' he told At The Races.

'Paul thought he looked a bit dull in his coat last year so he has done a few things differently this time round.'

Denman is available at 6-4 with Paddy Power and Coral.

(C) PA Sport